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picada

pee-KAH-dah/piˈkaða/

snack platter

Also: appetizer board
NounfA2
Argentina
A wooden board topped with various meats, cubes of cheese, and olives.

📝 In Action

Pedimos una picada para compartir entre los cuatro.

A2

We ordered a snack platter to share among the four of us.

En Argentina, es muy común comer una picada antes del asado.

B1

In Argentina, it's very common to have a snack platter before the barbecue.

La picada trae jamón, queso, aceitunas y salame.

A1

The snack platter has ham, cheese, olives, and salami.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • Hacer una picada – To put together a snack platter
  • Picada de fiambres – Cold cut platter

bite

Also: sting
NounfA1
Latin America
A small red bump on a person's forearm.

📝 In Action

Tengo una picada de mosquito en la pierna.

A1

I have a mosquito bite on my leg.

¡No te rasques esa picada!

A2

Don't scratch that bite!

Esta crema es muy buena para las picadas de insectos.

B1

This cream is very good for insect bites.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • Picada de mosquito – Mosquito bite
  • Picada de abeja – Bee sting

chopped

Also: minced, pitted
A pile of finely chopped white onions and green herbs on a cutting board.

📝 In Action

Necesito comprar medio kilo de carne picada.

A2

I need to buy half a kilo of minced meat.

La receta lleva cebolla bien picada.

B1

The recipe requires well-chopped onion.

Tengo una muela picada y debo ir al dentista.

B2

I have a tooth with a cavity and I must go to the dentist.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • troceada (cut up)
  • molida (ground/minced)

Common Collocations

  • Carne picada – Minced meat/Ground beef
  • Cebolla picada – Chopped onion

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "picada" in Spanish:

appetizer board→bite→snack platter→sting→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: picada

Question 1 of 3

If you are in Argentina and someone invites you to a 'picada', what should you expect?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
picar(to sting/bite/peck) — Verb
picante(spicy) — Adjective
picadillo(hash/minced dish) — Noun
picadura(sting/puncture) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the verb 'picar', which comes from the Vulgar Latin 'piccare' (to strike with a pick or point). It reflects the idea of many small 'stabs' or 'cuts' made to food or by an insect.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: pickFrench: piquer

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 'picada' the same as 'tapas'?

They are similar concepts but 'picada' is usually a single platter with many varieties of finger food (cheese, ham, olives) served together, while 'tapas' are often individual small dishes served separately.

Does 'picada' mean the food is spicy?

No! Although it comes from the same root as 'picante' (spicy), a 'picada' snack board is usually savory but not necessarily hot/spicy.

Can I use 'picada' for a snake bite?

Usually, yes. For any animal that 'pokes' or 'punctures' with its teeth or stinger, 'picada' (or 'picadura') is appropriate.