Inklingo
← Dictionary

espeso

eh-SPEH-soh/esˈpeso/

“espeso” means “thick” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

thick

Also: dense
A wooden spoon lifting a very thick, dark chocolate sauce from a bowl, showing its viscous texture.

📝 In Action

La salsa de tomate está muy espesa.

A2

The tomato sauce is very thick.

Había una niebla espesa en la carretera.

B1

There was a thick fog on the road.

Añade un poco de harina para que el guiso quede más espeso.

B1

Add a little flour so the stew becomes thicker.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • líquido (liquid/runny)
  • aguado (watery)
  • claro (thin/clear)

Common Collocations

  • chocolate espeso – thick chocolate
  • niebla espesa – thick/dense fog
  • humo espeso – thick smoke

slow-witted

Also: annoying
AdjectivemB2informal
Spain
A character looking confused with a small, soft grey cloud hovering directly over their head.

📝 In Action

Hoy no he dormido bien y estoy un poco espeso.

B2

I didn't sleep well today and I'm a bit slow/foggy.

¡Qué tío más espeso! No para de hablar de lo mismo.

C1

What an annoying guy! He won't stop talking about the same thing.

Perdona, estoy espeso y no entiendo la explicación.

B2

Sorry, my brain is foggy and I don't understand the explanation.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Idioms & Expressions

  • estar espeso – to be having a slow day or feeling mentally dull

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: espeso

Question 1 of 3

If your soup is too watery, how would you like it to be?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
espesura(thickness or thicket (dense woods)) — Noun
espesar(to thicken) — Verb
espesante(thickener (like cornstarch)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'spissus', which means 'dense', 'compact', or 'slow'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: inspissate (to thicken)Italian: spesso

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'espeso' and 'grueso'?

'Espeso' is for things that flow (liquids, smoke, fog) or are dense (forests). 'Grueso' is for solid objects like a thick book, a wall, or a finger.

Can I use 'espeso' to describe a person?

Yes. If you use 'estar', it means they are currently slow-witted or tired. If you use 'ser' (common in Spain), it means they are a boring or annoying person.

How do I say 'to thicken' a sauce?

You use the verb 'espesar'. For example: 'Tengo que espesar la salsa' (I have to thicken the sauce).