Spanish for Cooking with a Host Family: Asking About Chile Seeds and Heat
Learn to ask if you should remove chile seeds and say that doing so makes the dish less spicy, with practical Spanish phrases for the kitchen.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you cook with a host family in Latin America, chiles are often at the center of the meal. If you are not used to spicy food, you need a polite way to ask about the seeds and to adjust the heat. This lesson gives you elementary Spanish phrases to talk about removing seeds and reducing picante. You will learn to ask '¿Le quito las semillas?' and to explain 'Así pica menos.' These expressions are useful whether you are helping in the kitchen or asking about a dish at the table. The focus is on clear, cautious communication, not on memorizing a long list of ingredients.
By the end, you can…
- ask whether I should remove the seeds from chiles.
- say that removing seeds makes a dish less spicy.
- ask if a dish is very spicy before trying it.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
¿Le quito las semillas?
Should I remove the seeds?
leh KEE-toh lahs seh-MEE-yahs
Use this when you are helping in the kitchen and want to know if removing seeds is the right step. The pronoun 'le' refers to the chile or the dish (indirect object).
Así pica menos.
This way it's less spicy.
ah-SEE PEE-kah MEH-nohs
Say this after you remove the seeds to explain that the dish will be milder. 'Pica' comes from the verb 'picar' (to sting, to be spicy).
¿Está muy picante?
Is it very spicy?
ehs-TAH mwee pee-KAHN-teh
Ask this before you taste a dish. It is a simple yes/no question. In some regions, people say '¿Es muy picante?' with the same meaning.
¿Puedo quitarle las semillas?
Can I remove the seeds from it?
PWEH-doh kee-TAR-leh lahs seh-MEE-yahs
Use this when you want permission to remove the seeds yourself. The 'le' at the end of 'quitarle' refers to the chile (indirect object).
Sin semillas, pica menos.
Without seeds, it's less spicy.
seen seh-MEE-yahs, PEE-kah MEH-nohs
A short statement you can use when explaining why you are removing the seeds. 'Sin' means 'without'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask about removing something, use '¿Le quito ...?' or '¿Puedo quitarle ...?' The pronoun 'le' refers to the chile or the dish (indirect object). For example: '¿Le quito las semillas?' (Should I remove the seeds?) and '¿Puedo quitarle la piel?' (Can I remove the skin from it?). To talk about the effect on spiciness, use 'Así pica menos' (This way it's less spicy) or 'Sin semillas, pica menos' (Without seeds, it's less spicy). The verb 'picar' is used for the sting of spicy food. You can also say 'No pica mucho' (It's not very spicy).
When to use it
Use these phrases when you are cooking with a host family or helping in the kitchen. Ask '¿Le quito las semillas?' before you start removing seeds, so you follow the family's way of cooking. If you are sensitive to spicy food, you can say 'Para mí, sin semillas, por favor' (For me, without seeds, please) or '¿Está muy picante?' before you serve yourself. In some regions, 'picante' is the standard word for spicy, but in others, people might say 'picoso' (Mexico) or 'picante' (most of Latin America). Keep your tone polite and curious.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
¿Le quito las semillas a este chile?
Should I remove the seeds from this chile?leh KEE-toh lahs seh-MEE-yahs ah EHS-teh CHEE-lehSí, quítaselas. Así pica menos.
Yes, remove them. This way it's less spicy.see, KEE-tah-seh-lahs. ah-SEE PEE-kah MEH-nohs¿Y si no le quito las semillas?
And if I don't remove the seeds?ee see noh leh KEE-toh lahs seh-MEE-yahsEntonces va a picar más. Ten cuidado.
Then it will be spicier. Be careful.ehn-TOHN-sehs bah ah pee-KAR mahs. tehn kwee-DAH-dohA little context goes a long way
In many Latin American homes, chiles are a daily ingredient, and the level of picante is a personal preference. It is polite to ask before removing seeds, because some cooks want them kept for flavor. If you are not used to spicy food, say so calmly; hosts usually appreciate the honesty. Avoid making a face or saying a dish is bad; instead, ask for a milder portion or remove seeds from your own serving. In Mexico, 'picoso' is common for spicy, while in other countries 'picante' is more usual.
One thing to watch for
Using '¿Le quito las semillas?' to mean 'Can I remove the seeds?' when you are asking for permission.
Try this instead: For permission, use '¿Puedo quitarle las semillas?' The form '¿Le quito ...?' is more like 'Should I remove ...?' or 'Shall I remove ...?' For example, '¿Puedo quitarle las semillas?' is a clear request for permission.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Should I remove the seeds?' in Spanish?
Show a sample answer
¿Le quito las semillas?
This uses the verb 'quitar' with the indirect object pronoun 'le' to refer to the chile. You could also say '¿Le quito las semillas a este chile?' for clarity.
2How do you say 'This way it's less spicy'?
Show a sample answer
Así pica menos.
'Así' means 'this way', 'pica' is from 'picar' (to be spicy), and 'menos' means 'less'. A valid alternative is 'De esta forma, pica menos.'
3What phrase can you use to ask if a dish is very spicy before trying it?
Show a sample answer
¿Está muy picante?
This is a straightforward yes/no question. In some regions, you might hear '¿Es muy picante?' Both are correct.
Ask before removing seeds: '¿Le quito las semillas?' Then explain the result: 'Así pica menos.' These two phrases will help you cook and eat with confidence.
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