comer
/koˈmeɾ/
To eat in Spanish is comer. Wiktionary also lists manducar and papear.
Meaning: eat a meal (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| comer | /koˈmeɾ/ | |
| manducar | /manduˈkaɾ/ | |
| papear | /papeˈaɾ/ | |
| manyar | /manˈʝaɾ/ | Latin America |
The primary way to express the action of eating a meal is through the verb comer. For a more formal sense of nourishment, you can use Alimentarse.
Which one should you use?
While comer is the standard verb used for eating a meal, manyar is a colloquial term used in certain Latin American regions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, you may hear the informal term morfar used to mean eat.
How does it change in a sentence?
The gerund form of comer is comiendo (eating), and the first-person singular preterite form is comí (I ate).
How do you pronounce it?
/koˈmeɾ/
When do people say it?
¡Buen provecho! means Enjoy your meal!
Did you know?
- In some contexts, using comer can be a euphemism for 'to have sexual intercourse'.
- While comer is the standard, the informal term papear is onomatopoeic, meaning the word itself is intended to mimic the sound of eating or the mushy texture of food.
- The phrase ¡Buen provecho! is so culturally ingrained that it is often said to strangers who are eating as you walk past their table.
Examples in context
- No vas a comer.You're not going to eat.Tatoeba #4767299 by cueyayotl, translation #4767440 by rebeccadeho
- Te voy a comer.I'm gonna eat you.Tatoeba #9993364 by arh, translation #11324247 by Luornu
- Me voy a comer.I'm about to eat.Tatoeba #12892824 by ecorralest101, translation #3665189 by CK
- Doctor, es importante alimentarse adecuadamente para mantener una buena salud.Doctor, it is important to eat properly to maintain good health.
- ¡Amigo, vamos a comer una deliciosa pizza!Friend, let's go eat a delicious pizza!
- Che, ¿querés morfar algo antes del partido?Hey, do you want to eat something before the game?
- Yo comoI eat
- tú comesYou eat
- él comeHe eats
- nosotros comemosWe eat
- vosotros coméisYou all eat
- ellos comenThey eat
- Por favor, ¿te gustaría comer conmigo?Please, would you like to eat with me?
- 897 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are deciding what to do for lunch.
- Javier¿Tienes hambre, Lucía?Are you hungry, Lucía?
- LucíaSí, quiero comer algo.Yes, I want to eat something.
- JavierPodemos comer en el restaurante.We can eat at the restaurant.
- LucíaMe parece bien, Javier.That sounds good to me, Javier.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eat” translations and entries comer, manducar, papear, manyar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
