Adjective
/ɡɾaˈsjento/
In Spanish, "grasiento" generally refers to something that has an excessive amount of fat or grease. It is often used to describe food that is oily or greasy. The word can also be used metaphorically to describe certain characteristics such as personalities or situations that are slick or untrustworthy.
Frequency of Use: The word is fairly common in both oral and written contexts, particularly in culinary discussions. It might be used more frequently in colloquial speech when discussing food.
El pollo que comí estaba muy grasiento.
The chicken I ate was very greasy.
Las papas fritas suelen ser grasientas si se fríen en aceite viejo.
French fries tend to be greasy if fried in old oil.
No me gustan las comidas grasientas porque son poco saludables.
I don’t like greasy foods because they are unhealthy.
While "grasiento" itself is not a component of many idiomatic expressions, it can be part of phrases that describe someone's nature or food preferences. Here are some relevant examples:
"Echarle grasa a la comida"
To add grease to the food
Significance: Referring to the act of making food excessively oily.
A veces sólo hay que echarle grasa a la comida para hacerla más sabrosa.
Sometimes you just have to add grease to the food to make it tastier.
"Estar en un negocio grasiento"
To be in a shady business
Significance: Referring to an untrustworthy or dubious business.
No confíes en él; está en un negocio grasiento.
Don't trust him; he is in a shady business.
"Con manos grasientas"
With greasy hands
Significance: Describing someone who is messy or careless, especially when eating.
El niño llegó a casa con las manos grasientas después de comer pizza.
The boy came home with greasy hands after eating pizza.
The word "grasiento" is derived from "grasa," which means "fat" or "grease" in Spanish. "Grasa" itself comes from the Latin "crassa," which means "thick" or "fat."
Synonyms: - Aceitoso (oily) - Graso (fatty)
Antonyms: - Magro (lean) - Seco (dry)
In summary, "grasiento" is a commonly used Spanish adjective primarily used to describe foods that are greasy or oily, with some metaphorical extensions into describing personalities or business practices. It is recognized for its straightforward use in both casual conversation and culinary contexts.