Cool MateDelicious vs Tasty
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Delicious
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Tasty
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Delicious
| Delicious | Tasty | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈlɪʃəs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈlɪʃəs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈteɪsti//🇺🇸 //ˈteɪsti// |
| Meaning | Tastes very good. | Delicious or good to eat. |
| Example | The chocolate cake she made was absolutely delicious! | The chocolate cake was incredibly tasty. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, look, smell, incredibly, most, really, delicious and nutritious | tasty dish, tasty snack, tasty meal, tasty treat, tasty food |
| Antonyms | disgusting, unappetizing, bland | bland, tasteless, unappetizing |
| Common mistakes | Using 'delicious' to describe non-food items., Confusing 'delicious' with 'tasty' or 'yummy' in inappropriate contexts. | Using 'tasty' for non-food items, like experiences or people., Confusing 'tasty' with 'tasty-looking', which refers to appearance., Overusing 'tasty'; better to vary vocabulary with synonyms. |
| Usage notes | Use 'delicious' to describe food that tastes great. It's appropriate in most contexts, but avoid it in very formal writing or serious discussions. | Use 'tasty' to describe food that is enjoyable to eat. It’s suitable in both casual and formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Delicious vs Tasty
What's the difference between Delicious and Tasty?
Delicious: Tastes very good. Tasty: Delicious or good to eat.
Which is more common: Delicious and Tasty?
Delicious is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Delicious: The chocolate cake she made was absolutely delicious! Tasty: The chocolate cake was incredibly tasty.
Can I use Delicious and Tasty interchangeably?
Not always. Delicious and Tasty are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.