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PlainSpell

spicy

/ˈspaɪsi/adjective

spicy is spelled S-P-I-C-Y: 5 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 6.3 times per million words in written English, the 9,594th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, spicy means “Of, pertaining to, or containing spice” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).

How many letters and syllables are in spicy?

Letters5: S-P-I-C-Y
Syllables2 (from its American pronunciation)
In writing6.3 times per million words; the 9,594th most frequent word form
Wrong spellings searchednone measured in search

Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).

How common is spicy?

Spicy appears 6.3 times per million words in written English, the 9,594th most frequent word form in the list.

Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).

How do you pronounce spicy?

  • /ˈspaɪsi/

Spicy has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-spicy.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).

Forms of spicy

  • spicier comparative
  • spiciest superlative
  • spicey

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

What does spicy mean?

The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).

adjective

  1. 1

    Of, pertaining to, or containing spice.

    He prepared a spicy casserole.

  2. 2

    Of a flavor, provoking a burning sensation due to the presence of capsaicin or a similar chemical.

    This curry is too spicy for me. I can't eat it.

  3. 3

    Of a food, flavor, or odor, tangy, zesty, or pungent.

    She breathed in the strong, spicy aroma.

  4. 4

    Of an expression or behavior, vigorous; colorful; stimulating.

    He is known for his spicy political commentary.

  5. 5

    informalScandalous.

  6. 6

    Risky; mildly aggressive or dangerous.

    Look at the little wildcub! That's one spicy ball of fur.

  7. 7

    Risqué, sexy, racy; mildly pornographic.

    I don't want my children to see the spicy images on this web site.

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

Spicy in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese

LanguageWords
Germanscharf (providing a burning sensation due to chilies…), würzig, pikant (tangy or pungent)
Portuguesepicante (providing a burning sensation due to chilies…), apimentado (tangy or pungent)
Spanishpicoso, alampante (providing a burning sensation due to chilies…), picante (tangy or pungent)
Frenchépicé, piquant, pimenté (tangy or pungent)

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.

Where does spicy come from?

From spic(e) + -y. First attested in the 16th century.

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

What to look up after spicy