el rico
tasty
Que tiene buen sabor y da gusto comer o beber.
Definition & meaning
Rico is mainly an adjective with several meanings:
-
Rich or wealthy
It describes someone who has a lot of money or possessions.- Es un hombre rico. — “He is a rich man.”
- It can also describe a country or region with abundant natural resources: un país rico en petróleo — “a country rich in oil.”
-
Tasty, delicious, or flavorful
It describes food and drinks that taste good.- Esta sopa está muy rica. — “This soup is very tasty.”
- ¡Qué rico! — “How delicious!” or “That’s so good!”
-
Abundant or plentiful
It can mean containing a large amount of something.- Una dieta rica en proteínas — “a protein-rich diet.”
-
Pleasant, attractive, or enjoyable
In informal speech, especially in some Latin American countries, it can describe something pleasant or attractive.- Qué rico dormir. — “It feels so good to sleep.”
- Es una persona muy rica can sometimes mean “He/she is a delightful person,” depending on context.
-
A rich person
As a substantivized adjective, un rico means “a rich man” or “a rich person,” while una rica means “a rich woman.”
Grammar & Word origin
Rico is an adjective and changes according to gender and number:
Examples:
- un postre rico — “a delicious dessert”
- una comida rica — “a tasty meal”
- unos países ricos — “some rich countries”
- unas salsas ricas — “some tasty sauces”
The word comes from a Germanic root, probably related to Gothic reiks, meaning “powerful” or “rich.” Its meanings later developed to include both material wealth and desirable qualities such as good taste.
Synonyms & antonyms
Meaning “wealthy”
- adinerado — wealthy; often emphasizes having substantial money.
- acaudalado — very wealthy or affluent; more formal.
- opulento — rich in a luxurious or excessive way.
Antonyms:
- pobre — poor; the direct opposite concerning money or resources.
- humilde — modest or of limited means, though it does not always mean poor.
Meaning “tasty”
- sabroso — flavorful and tasty; often focuses on strong or pleasant flavor.
- delicioso — delicious; usually stronger and more enthusiastic than rico.
- apetitoso — appetizing or inviting, especially in appearance or smell.
Antonyms:
- insípido — bland or lacking flavor.
- desagradable — unpleasant, more general than simply “not tasty.”
Meaning “abundant”
- abundante — plentiful; more neutral and precise.
- fecundo — fertile or productive, especially for land, ideas, or creativity.
Antonym:
Common phrases & collocations
- ser rico — to be rich
- hacerse rico — to become rich
- rico en — rich in
- rico en vitaminas — “rich in vitamins”
- comida rica — tasty food
- salsa rica — delicious sauce
- ¡Qué rico! — “How delicious!” or “That feels great!”
- estar rico — to taste good; in some contexts, to be attractive
- rico y famoso — rich and famous
Make “rico” part of your vocabulary.
Build your Spanish vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.
Examples
El plato que preparaste está realmente rico.adjective
The dish you prepared is really tasty.
El pan está rico hoy.adjective
The bread is tasty today.
Ese pan está rico.adjective
That bread is tasty.
Los helados en la tienda son muy ricos.adjective
The ice creams in the shop are very tasty.
¿Te pareció rico el almuerzo de hoy?adjective
Did you find today's lunch tasty?
Keep exploring Spanish
Learn words from the content you love.
Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).
Scan for iPhone & iPad