Ser vs. Estar Confusion
Mistake: “Saying 'Es delicioso' when eating a specific meal.”
Correction: Está delicioso.
How to say
This is delicious
in SpanishEstá delicioso
ehs-TAH deh-lee-SYOH-soh
This is the direct, standard translation for 'this is delicious.' It works in any Spanish-speaking country and is appropriate for any situation, from a fancy restaurant to a family dinner.
Using gestures like the 'chef's kiss' or smiling while saying '¡Qué rico!' adds natural emphasis to your compliment.
🎬Watch & Learn
This is delicious — in Spanish
💬Other Ways to Say It
Está muy rico
★★★★★
ehs-TAH MOOY REE-koh
casual🌍
The most common everyday way to say food is tasty. 'Rico' literally means 'rich,' but for food, it means 'tasty' or 'good.'
When to use: Use this in daily conversation, at home, or with friends. It sounds more natural than 'delicioso' for simple meals.
¡Qué rico!
★★★★★
keh REE-koh
casual🌎 🇪🇸
An exclamation meaning 'How tasty!' or 'How delicious!'
When to use: Use this immediately after taking a bite to show instant enjoyment.
Está buenísimo
★★★★☆
ehs-TAH bweh-NEE-see-moh
casual🌍
A superlative meaning 'It is really, really good.'
When to use: Use when the food exceeds your expectations and you want to be enthusiastic.
Está de rechupete
★★☆☆☆
ehs-TAH deh reh-choo-PEH-teh
informal/playful🇪🇸 🇲🇽 🌍
A fun, colloquial phrase essentially meaning 'finger-licking good.'
When to use: Use with family or close friends when you want to be playful about how much you love the food.
Sabe a gloria
★★★☆☆
SAH-beh ah GLOH-ryah
neutral🇪🇸 🌎
Literally 'It tastes like glory' (or heaven).
When to use: Use for something sweet, refreshing, or incredibly satisfying, like a cold drink on a hot day or a perfect dessert.
Exquisito
★★★☆☆
ehks-kee-SEE-toh
formal🌍
Meaning 'exquisite,' this is a polite and refined compliment.
When to use: Perfect for formal dining, weddings, or when complimenting a chef or host you don't know well.
Está para chuparse los dedos
★★★☆☆
ehs-TAH PAH-rah choo-PAHR-seh lohs DEH-dohs
informal🌍
The literal translation of 'It's finger-licking good' (literally: it's for sucking one's fingers).
When to use: Use for messy but delicious foods like ribs, tacos, or wings in a casual setting.
Sabroso
★★★★☆
sah-BROH-soh
neutral🌎 🏝️
Meaning 'flavorful' or 'tasty.'
When to use: Very common in the Caribbean and parts of Latin America to describe food with good seasoning or 'sazón'.
🔑Key Words
Key Words to learn:
📊Quick Comparison
Choosing the right word depends on how impressed you are and who you are with.
| Phrase | Formality | Best For | Avoid When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Está delicioso | Neutral | Any situation, polite compliments | You want to use quick slang |
| Está rico | Casual | Everyday meals, snacks, friends | Writing a formal critique (too simple) |
| Está exquisito | Formal | Fancy dinners, impressing a chef | Eating fast food or street tacos |
| Está de muerte | Informal (Spain) | Emphasizing amazing flavor in Spain | Formal business meetings |
📈Difficulty Level
Overall Difficulty:beginnerMaster in a few minutes
Pronunciation2/5
Most words are phonetic. 'Delicioso' flows easily for English speakers.
Grammar2/5
The only trick is remembering to use 'Está' instead of 'Es'.
Cultural Nuance3/5
Knowing when to stop complimenting so you don't seem fake, but complimenting enough to be polite.
Key Challenges:
- Remembering to use 'Estar' for current taste
- Rolling the R in 'Rico' (optional but good)
💡Examples in Action
Guest complimenting a host at a dinner partyA1
¡Gracias por la cena! Todo está delicioso.
Thanks for dinner! Everything is delicious.
Casual comment among friends while eating dessertA2
Este pastel de chocolate está buenísimo.
This chocolate cake is really, really good.
Describing specific food detailsA2
La sopa está muy rica, tiene mucho sabor.
The soup is very tasty, it has a lot of flavor.
Giving a formal review or recommendation of a restaurantB1
Sinceramente, la comida aquí es exquisita.
Honestly, the food here is exquisite.
🌍Cultural Context
The Importance of Compliments
In Hispanic culture, food is a love language. If someone cooks for you, it is considered very polite (almost mandatory) to explicitly state that the food is good. Staying silent while eating might worry the host that you don't like it.
Buen Provecho
Before starting to eat, or when passing someone who is eating, it is customary to say '¡Buen provecho!' (Enjoy your meal). It's a polite acknowledgment that is used far more frequently than 'Bon appétit' is used in English.
Gestures Speak Loudly
In many Latin American countries, verbal praise is often accompanied by non-verbal cues. A common gesture in Mexico and other regions is bunching your fingers together and bringing them to your mouth and kissing them (the 'chef's kiss'), or simply rubbing your tummy while saying '¡Qué rico!'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Rich vs. Tasty
Mistake: “Thinking 'rico' only means 'rich' (wealthy).”
Correction: Understand 'rico' means tasty in food contexts.
Spicy vs. Hot
Mistake: “Using 'caliente' to mean spicy.”
Correction: Picante.
💡Pro Tips
Combine for Impact
To sound very natural, combine an exclamation with a statement. For example: '¡Mmm, qué rico! Está buenísimo.' (Mmm, how tasty! It's really good.)
When to use 'Rico'
'Delicioso' is a bit of a mouthful for quick comments. In casual conversation, prefer 'Está muy rico' or simply '¡Qué rico!'. It sounds more like a native speaker and less like a textbook.
🗺️Regional Variations
🇪🇸
Spain
Preferred:Está buenísimo / Está de muerte
Pronunciation:Standard Castilian
Alternatives:
Está de vicio (It's addictive/vice-like)Está de cine (It's like the movies/great)
Spaniards often use colorful expressions involving death or vice to describe extreme goodness. 'Está de muerte' (It's to die for) is very common.
⚠️ Note: Avoid overusing 'delicioso'; 'rico' or 'bueno' are more common for daily food.
🇲🇽
Mexico
Preferred:Está muy rico / Está delicioso
Pronunciation:Clear, emphasized consonants
Alternatives:
Está bien bueno (It's good good)Tiene buen sazón (It has good seasoning/touch)
In Mexico, complimenting the 'sazón' (the cook's personal touch/seasoning) is the highest form of flattery.
⚠️ Note: Slang varies heavily; stick to 'rico' to be safe.
🌍
Caribbean (Cuba, PR, DR)
Preferred:Está sabroso
Pronunciation:Softer consonants, sometimes dropping 's' sounds
Alternatives:
Tiene saborEstá criminal (Slang for 'it's amazing' in PR)
'Sabroso' is used much more frequently here than in other regions to describe tasty, well-seasoned food.
💬What Comes Next?
The host asks if you like the food ('¿Te gusta?')
They say:
¿Está bueno?
Is it good?
→
You respond:
Sí, me encanta. Está delicioso.
Yes, I love it. It's delicious.
After you compliment the food
They say:
¿Quieres repetir?
Do you want seconds? (literally: repeat)
→
You respond:
Un poco más, por favor.
A little more, please.
🔄How It Differs from English
In English, we often use 'It is' for food (It is good). In Spanish, we almost exclusively use 'Está' (It is currently) for the food on our plate. Also, Spanish speakers tend to be more vocal and expressive with food enjoyment during the meal compared to some English-speaking cultures.
False Friends & Common Confusions:
"It is rich"
Why it''s different: In English, 'rich' usually means heavy or creamy food. In Spanish, 'rico' just means tasty/yummy, regardless of how heavy the food is.
Use instead: Use 'rico' for anything that tastes good, even a light salad.
🎯Your Learning Path
➡️ Learn Next:
How to say I am full in Spanish
You will need this phrase to politely stop eating after saying the food is delicious.
How to ask for the bill in Spanish
Essential for finishing your meal at a restaurant.
How to say bon appetit in Spanish
The polite phrase to use before you start eating.
✏️Test Your Knowledge
Quick Quiz: This is delicious
Question 1 of 3
You are eating a taco right now and it tastes amazing. Which verb do you use?
Use phrases naturally, not mechanically
Knowing a phrase is one thing — using it at the right moment is another. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see phrases in the contexts where they actually belong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just say 'Delicioso' by itself?
Yes! While 'Está delicioso' is a complete sentence, simply saying '¡Delicioso!' while eating is perfectly natural and understood as 'Delicious!'
Is 'Rico' slang?
No, 'rico' is not slang. It is informal but standard Spanish. You can use it with your grandmother, your boss, or your friends without worrying. It's just less formal than 'delicioso' or 'exquisito'.
What if I don't like the food?
If you need to be polite but honest, you can say 'No es mi favorito' (It's not my favorite) or simply 'Está interesante' (It's interesting). Usually, it's culturally safer to eat a little and say nothing than to say it tastes bad!
Do I use 'Ser' or 'Estar' for food?
Use 'Estar' (está bueno, está rico) for the food you are eating right now. Use 'Ser' (es bueno, es rico) only if you are stating a general fact, like 'Chocolate is tasty' (El chocolate es rico).
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