Niveau de difficulté
short
short
short
short
Quoi apprendre ensuite
Prérequis
Apprends ensuite
Avancé
Grammaire à connaître
Verbs ending in -ear, like picotear, are regular -ar verbs. This means they follow the standard conjugation pattern for -ar verbs.
Yo picoteo (I nibble).
Picotear can be used transitively, meaning it takes a direct object (what is being nibbled).
Ella picotea las almendras. (She nibbles the almonds.)
It can also be used intransitively, simply meaning to snack or nibble without specifying what.
A mí me gusta picotear por la tarde. (I like to snack in the afternoon.)
When referring to 'to snack on' something, you often use 'picotear' followed by a noun, sometimes with 'de' but often without.
Vamos a picotear algo. (Let's snack on something.) / Picotearé de la ensalada. (I will nibble on the salad.)
The infinitive 'picotear' can be used after prepositions or as the subject of a sentence.
Es divertido picotear con amigos. (It's fun to snack with friends.)
Modèles grammaticaux
Structures de phrases
A mi me gusta picotear [comida].
A mí me gusta picotear papas fritas. (I like to snack on potato chips.)
No [verbo] mucho; solo estoy picoteando.
No estoy comiendo mucho; solo estoy picoteando. (I'm not eating much; I'm just nibbling.)
¿Quieres picotear algo?
¿Quieres picotear algo antes de la cena? (Do you want to snack on something before dinner?)
Estoy picoteando mientras trabajo.
Estoy picoteando un poco de queso mientras trabajo. (I'm nibbling on some cheese while I work.)
Es mejor picotear [sustantivo] que [sustantivo].
Es mejor picotear frutas que dulces. (It's better to snack on fruits than sweets.)
Me gusta picotear cuando veo [sustantivo].
Me gusta picotear palomitas de maíz cuando veo películas. (I like to snack on popcorn when I watch movies.)
Siempre está picoteando [sustantivo] entre comidas.
Mi perro siempre está picoteando las croquetas entre comidas. (My dog is always nibbling on kibble between meals.)
Deberíamos picotear algo saludable.
Deberíamos picotear algo saludable para no tener tanta hambre. (We should snack on something healthy so we're not so hungry.)
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Imagine a 'peck-o-tear' bird, pecking at small crumbs. 'Picotear' is like a bird pecking or nibbling.
Association visuelle
Picture yourself at a party, standing by the snack table, 'picoteando' on chips and olives. You're just taking small bites, not a full meal.
Word Web
Défi
You're at a tapas bar. Describe what you would 'picotear' in Spanish. For example: 'Me gustaría picotear unas aceitunas y un poco de queso.' (I would like to nibble on some olives and a little cheese.)
Teste-toi 6 questions
Which of the following scenarios best exemplifies the act of 'picotear'?
To 'picotear' implies consuming small amounts of food, often as snacks, rather than a substantial meal.
In a social gathering, if someone is said to be 'picoteando', what are they most likely doing?
The term 'picotear' is often used to describe the act of grazing or nibbling on different small food items at an event.
Which English phrase is the closest in meaning to 'picotear' in the context of eating?
Both 'graze' and 'snack' accurately convey the idea of eating small amounts of food intermittently, which is the core meaning of 'picotear'.
If you are 'picoteando' throughout the day, it means you are eating large, heavy meals at regular intervals.
The act of 'picotear' specifically refers to eating small amounts of food, not large or heavy meals.
Someone who 'picotea' is typically very focused on finishing all the food on their plate quickly.
'Picotear' implies a more casual and intermittent style of eating, often without the intention of finishing everything quickly.
The word 'picotear' can be used to describe a bird pecking at seeds.
While primarily used for humans snacking, 'picotear' also literally means 'to peck', which applies to birds.
/ 6 correct
Perfect score!
Exemple
Le gusta picotear algo entre comidas.
Contenu associé
Ce mot dans d'autres langues
Plus de mots sur food
a la carta
B1Referring to dishes that are ordered individually from a menu.
abrelatas
B1A device for opening cans of food.
aceituna
A1A small oval fruit with a hard pit, green or black, used for oil or eating.
aceitunas
B1Small oval fruits with a bitter taste, often pickled.
ácido
A2Having a sharp, sour taste like vinegar or lemon juice.
aderezar
B1To season or dress food, especially salads.
aderezo
B1A sauce or seasoning for food, especially salads.
aditivo
B1A substance added to food to improve its flavor, color, or shelf-life.
agridulce
B1Having a mixture of sweet and sour tastes.
agrio
A1Sour.
