Spicy and/or hot? What's the difference?

[analema]

Most people think they(hot and spicy) have the same meaning. Doesn't ''spicy'' imply you like the strong taste while ''hot'' means the taste is too strong and you don't like it?

 

[Grumpy]

No. Strictly speaking, "hot" refers to the temperature of the food, whereas "spicy"refers to the taste. So, one could eat a dish of cold curry which was very spicy. However, the two words are often used in the same sense, when referring to the taste. In that context [in my experience] there is absolutely no difference in implication: hot does not mean "too hot" or "too spicy".

 

[SoothingDave]

Hot wings are hot because of the spicy sauce, not because of the temperature. People like hot wings and hot sauce. Saying it's "hot" doesn't mean you don't like it.

It can be ambiguous to say "this food is too hot."

 

[emsr2d2]

If you're talking about spiciness, then "hot" and "spicy" mean exactly the same thing. If you're talking about temperature, "hot" is appropriate but "spicy" is not.