piquant

spicy

adjective pee-KAHN Rare

Also means

sharp, pointed

Usage Note

piquant has a broad range: it describes the heat of chilli, the sharpness of a wit, or literally a thorn or spine. The feminine form is piquante. The phrase une sauce piquante is common in cooking, while un détail piquant means an intriguing or provocative detail in a story.

Examples

"Cette sauce est trop piquante pour moi."

Natural Translation

This sauce is too spicy for me.

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