pegajoso

Pegajoso is a Spanish adjective meaning sticky or adhesive. It describes substances and surfaces that cling to other things or leave a residue, such as glue, syrup, honey, tape, or a damp, tacky surface. The noun form is pegajosidad, used to denote the quality of being sticky, while pegajosamente is the adverb. The word is widely used in everyday language across Spain and Latin America and agrees in gender and number (pegajoso/pegajosa, pegajosos/pegajosas).

In addition to its literal sense, pegajoso has figurative uses. When referring to people or behavior, it can describe someone who is clingy or overly persistent: “una persona pegajosa.” In cultural contexts, it can describe something memorable and hard to forget, as in “una melodía pegajosa” or “una campaña pegajosa.” A closely related adjective is pegadizo, which more often emphasizes catchiness, particularly with tunes or slogans, whereas pegajoso can emphasize physical stickiness or social clinginess.

Etymology traces to pegar, meaning to glue or to stick, with the common suffix -oso that forms adjectives indicating a property. Usage varies by region, but both pegajoso and pegadizo are understood in most Spanish-speaking communities. Examples help distinguish senses: “La cinta está pegajosa,” “La canción es pegajosa,” and “No seas tan pegajoso.”