pica
“pica” means “it's spicy” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
it's spicy, it stings/itches
Also: he/she/it pecks, he/she/it snacks
📝 In Action
Ten cuidado, esta salsa pica mucho.
A1Be careful, this sauce is very spicy.
Me pica mucho el brazo por el mosquito.
A2My arm is very itchy because of the mosquito.
El pájaro pica la fruta.
B1The bird is pecking at the fruit.
spades, pike
Also: pica
📝 In Action
Tengo el as de picas.
B1I have the ace of spades.
Los antiguos soldados usaban picas muy largas.
C1The ancient soldiers used very long pikes.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pica
Question 1 of 1
If you are eating Mexican food and it is very hot/spicy, which should you say?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Vulgar Latin word 'piccare,' which meant to pierce or prick with something sharp.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'pica' always mean something is spicy?
No. While it's very common for food, it also means 'it itches' (like a sweater or a bug bite) or it can refer to the suit of spades in a deck of cards.
What is the difference between 'pica' and 'pique'?
'Pica' is the normal present tense (it stings). 'Pique' is the form used for wishes, commands, or after 'que' (e.g., 'espero que no pique' - I hope it isn't spicy).