neutral📍 Mexico — general
¿Está picoso?
Is it spicy? / It's spicy
ehs-TAH pee-KOH-soh
What does it mean?
In Mexico, "picoso" means spicy/hot from chile. "¿Está picoso?" asks if a dish is spicy; "no pica" means it isn't. Much of Latin America says "picante", but Mexicans often say "picoso" — a crucial question for travelers who can't handle the heat.
How to use it
Essential at any Mexican table. Ask "¿está muy picoso?" before you commit. Salsa is usually served on the side, so you control the heat — "sin chile, por favor" keeps it mild.
Example sentences
Is the salsa spicy?
¿Está picosa la salsa?
It's a little spicy.
Está medio picoso.
Not too spicy, please.
Que no esté muy picoso, por favor.
Related phrases
More mexico-food phrases
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