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pico

PEE-kohˈpiko

beak, bill

NounmA1
A close-up illustration of a colorful bird's head, focusing on its prominent, sharp yellow beak.

📝 In Action

El pájaro alimentó a sus crías con su pico.

A1

The bird fed its young with its beak.

Ten cuidado, el loro tiene un pico muy fuerte.

A2

Be careful, the parrot has a very strong beak.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • trompa (snout, trunk)

Common Collocations

  • pico de pato – duck bill

peak, tip

Also: point
NounmA2
A colorful illustration of a very tall, snow-capped mountain with a distinct, sharp peak dominating the landscape.

📝 In Action

Llegamos al pico de la montaña después de tres horas.

A2

We reached the peak of the mountain after three hours.

El lápiz necesita punta; se le rompió el pico.

A2

The pencil needs sharpening; its tip broke off.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • pico y pala – pick and shovel

Idioms & Expressions

  • estar en el pico de algo – to be at the height or peak of something (e.g., a career)

and a bit, odd

Also: change
NounmB1
An illustration showing a basket completely full of apples, with one small, extra apple resting just outside the basket, symbolizing an excess amount.

📝 In Action

La cuenta es de cien euros y pico.

B1

The bill is a hundred euros and a bit more.

Tiene veinticinco años y pico.

B2

He is twenty-five years old and a little over.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • mil y pico – a thousand and something

mouth

Also: trap
NounmB2informal
Spain
A simple illustration showing a close-up of a human face, emphasizing the slightly smiling mouth and lips.

📝 In Action

¡Cierra el pico y escúchame!

B2

Shut your mouth and listen to me!

Le dio un pico a su novia antes de irse.

C1

He gave his girlfriend a quick kiss before leaving.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • de pico en pico – from mouth to mouth (gossip)

Idioms & Expressions

  • ir de pico – to be very talkative, to gossip

pickaxe, pick

NounmB1
An illustration of a heavy wooden pickaxe with a pointed metal head, stuck into the brown earth.

📝 In Action

Necesitamos un pico y una pala para cavar el hoyo.

B1

We need a pickaxe and a shovel to dig the hole.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • azada (hoe)

Vocabulary Collections

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "pico" in Spanish:

beak→bill→change→mouth→odd→peak→pick→pickaxe→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: pico

Question 1 of 2

Which meaning of 'pico' is used when describing a bill of 500 euros and 25 cents?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
picar(to sting, to chop, to peck) — Verb
picotear(to peck lightly, to snack) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word 'pico' comes from Vulgar Latin *piccus*, which means 'pointed' or 'sharp.' This origin explains why it is used for a bird's beak, a mountain's peak, and the sharp tool used for digging.

First recorded: 12th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: picoItalian: picco

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'pico' always a masculine word?

Yes, 'pico' is always a masculine noun, meaning you must use 'el' or 'un' with it, regardless of which meaning you are using.

How do I know if 'pico' means 'peak' or 'beak'?

Context is key! If you are talking about nature, it usually means 'beak' (with birds) or 'peak' (with mountains). If it follows a number, it means 'a little extra.' If used with people, it often means 'mouth' informally.