Inklingo
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pica

/PEE-kah/

it's spicy

A small red chili pepper with a few drops of hot sauce next to it on a white surface.

The word 'pica' is often used to describe the spicy heat of a chili pepper.

pica(verb)

A2regular with spelling change (c to qu in some forms) ar

it's spicy

?

referring to food like chili or hot sauce

,

it stings/itches

?

referring to a bug bite or a physical sensation

Also:

he/she/it pecks

?

referring to birds or small pokes

,

he/she/it snacks

?

referring to eating small bits of food

📝 In Action

Ten cuidado, esta salsa pica mucho.

A1

Be careful, this sauce is very spicy.

Me pica mucho el brazo por el mosquito.

A2

My arm is very itchy because of the mosquito.

El pájaro pica la fruta.

B1

The bird is pecking at the fruit.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • escuece (it stings (usually chemical/burn))
  • muerde (it bites)

Common Collocations

  • pica el gusanillo – to get the itch/urge to do something

Idioms & Expressions

  • el que se pica, ajos come – If you get offended, it's because the truth hurts

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'Itches'

When you want to say something itches you, use 'me pica' (it itches me), 'te pica' (it itches you), etc.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Hot vs. Spicy

Mistake: "Using 'caliente' for spicy food."

Correction: Use 'pica' or 'picante'. 'Caliente' only means hot temperature.

⭐ Usage Tips

Spelling Change Alert

When writing the past tense 'I poked' or 'I stung', change the 'c' to 'qu': piqué. This keeps the 'k' sound!

A large, black spade symbol from a deck of cards centered on a simple background.

In the context of card games, 'pica' refers to the suit of spades.

pica(noun)

fB1

spades

?

the card suit

,

pike

?

a long spear-like weapon

Also:

pica

?

a medical condition involving eating non-food items

📝 In Action

Tengo el as de picas.

B1

I have the ace of spades.

Los antiguos soldados usaban picas muy largas.

C1

The ancient soldiers used very long pikes.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • poner una pica en Flandes – to achieve something very difficult

💡 Grammar Points

Plural for Cards

When talking about the card suit 'spades,' almost always use the plural form: picas.

⭐ Usage Tips

Card Games

The four suits in Spanish cards can be different, but in the 'French' deck (poker/bridge), this word always means the black heart-shaped suit with a stem.

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedespicaran
yopicara
túpicaras
vosotrospicarais
nosotrospicáramos
él/ella/ustedpicara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedespiquen
yopique
túpiques
vosotrospiquéis
nosotrospiquemos
él/ella/ustedpique

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedespicaron
yopiqué
túpicaste
vosotrospicasteis
nosotrospicamos
él/ella/ustedpicó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedespicaban
yopicaba
túpicabas
vosotrospicabais
nosotrospicábamos
él/ella/ustedpicaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedespican
yopico
túpicas
vosotrospicáis
nosotrospicamos
él/ella/ustedpica
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ 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

picante(spicy) - adjective
picadura(sting or bite) - noun
picotear(to snack or peck) - verb
picazón(itchiness) - noun

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).