spicy
/ˈspaɪ.si/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
- 1.
Having a strong, hot taste because of spices such as chilli or pepper. It can also mean full of spice flavour, even if it is not very hot.
- This curry is too spicy for me.
- She likes spicy noodles.
- Add less chilli if you want a milder taste.
- 2.
Used informally for something exciting, controversial, or slightly shocking. This meaning is common in speech and media.
- The interview got a little spicy.
- That story sounds pretty spicy.
- They shared some spicy gossip.
Adinary Nuance
Spicy is more specific than hot or peppery. Use spicy when the flavour comes from spices or chilli, not just heat. In informal speech, spicy can also mean bold or slightly scandalous, which is a newer, non-food use.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- cay
- Spanish
- picante
- Chinese
- 辣的
- Japanese
- 辛い
- Korean
- 매운
Etymology
Spicy comes from spice, which entered English from Old French in the Middle Ages. The adjective developed from the idea of food being full of spices.
Common phrases
spicy foodspicy curryspicy saucespicy gossip
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is spicy the same as hot?
- Often, yes. But spicy can also mean full of spice flavour, not only very hot.
- Can I use spicy for news or gossip?
- Yes, in informal English. It means exciting, bold, or a little shocking.
- What is the difference between spicy and peppery?
- Peppery usually means tasting like pepper. Spicy is broader and includes chilli and other spices.