You just ate something very spicy.....

Question

...how do you describe:

1) the food's spiciness, and

2) how you mouth is burning?

I am asking this because the answers used here in Baja are not intuitive.

I don't know the answer, but I like this question! I'd like to know how to say this! - 00ffada9, Mar 2, 2014

Thanks hca - gringojrf, Mar 2, 2014

Answer 1

We normally don´t mention "my mouth is burning" but just the spiciness of the food: Pica mucho / es muy picoso(a).

Yes. The spiciness of the food is addressed as 'es muy picoso'. Now let's see who gets the other half. - gringojrf, Mar 2, 2014

Although here you would never say "pica mucho". I am sure you know why. - gringojrf, Mar 2, 2014

I didn´t realize this is a game and no, I don´t know why nor do I know "the other half." Please enlighten - 005faa61, Mar 2, 2014

Well here "picar" has sexual connotations, so to say "me pica mucho" will draw snickers and dirty jokes. Or maybe just in my crowd. - gringojrf, Mar 2, 2014

For a long time instead of '"picoso" I would say "chiloso" since after all the burning is caused by the chilis. Turns out chiloso is not a word, but picoso is. - gringojrf, Mar 2, 2014

Many expressions can have sexual connotations, so by adding "me" to the expression it can become sexual as well, but note that for the food experience we don´t say "me" but "(la comida) pica mucho" - this way you are "safe" ja ja - 005faa61, Mar 2, 2014

Thanks. So its the "me" that gets me in trouble. That is good to know. - gringojrf, Mar 2, 2014

Answer 2

Hola Jim,

1) the food's spiciness:

Yo diría que la comida está picosa (si es por causa del chile), o la comida está demasiado sazonada (si te pica por la cantidad exagerada de especias).

2) how your mouth is burning?

Yo diría "estoy súper enchilada", o "mi boca está ardiendo de tanto chile".

Yes. Too much salt can be bad as well and it is not picoso but as you state sazonada. IAnd here we use enchilar as well for the burning sensation in the tongue. - gringojrf, Mar 2, 2014

Answer 3

arder or picar for burning...esta picosa

Answer 4

Aquí con chile para picante y sin chile o corriente o simple sí no quiere chile.

Para picante hay suave, media picante, picante, muy picante y demasiado picante. También el mismo con enchiliso.

Voy a enchilar la carne.

Well you hit on the word we use. Enchilar. Esta salsa me enchila. For this salsa is burning (my mouth). - gringojrf, Mar 2, 2014

So as I said in a comment on Julianá answer I used to use chiloso, when I should have been saying enchiloso. But still picoso is used here. Esta salsa es muy picoso y me enchila mucho. - gringojrf, Mar 2, 2014