comer
/koˈmeɾ/
In Spanish, 'eating food' is expressed by the verb comer.
The primary way to express the concept of eating is with the verb comer. Depending on the context, you can use more specific terms. For example, while comer is a general verb for eating, Spanish often uses specific verbs for specific meals, such as desayunar (to eat breakfast) or cenar (to eat dinner). Additionally, the noun comida is versatile and can refer to the substance 'food' or the event 'the meal'.
Which one should you use?
While comer is the general term for eating, you might choose more specialized verbs like desayunar for breakfast or cenar for dinner to be more precise about which meal is being consumed.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the informal expression picando is used to mean 'nibbling' or 'snacking'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the continuous action of eating, use the present participle (gerund) comiendo. To specifically say 'eating food' as a continuous action, you use the gerund comiendo followed by the noun comida, resulting in comiendo comida.
How do you pronounce it?
/koˈmeɾ/
Did you know?
- The phrase comerse el coco literally means 'to eat one's own coconut', but it is an idiom used to describe overthinking something or obsessing over a problem.
- The verb comer is used in the phrase comerse las uvas, a tradition in Spain and Latin America where people eat twelve grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve for good luck.
- Spanish uses the reflexive form comerse to emphasize that someone is eating an entire portion or eating something greedily, which adds a layer of intensity the English 'eat' lacks.
Examples in context
- Estoy comiendoI am eating
- La gente está consumiendo alimentos saludablesPeople are eating healthy food
- Necesitamos ingerir comida nutritiva para mantenernos sanosWe need to eat nutritious food to stay healthy
- Voy a comer ahoraI'm going to eat now
- Estoy en casa picando algo antes de la cenaI'm at home snacking on something before dinner
- Me gusta comer sano.I like eating healthy food.
- Es hora de comer algo.It is time to eat something.
- No puedo dejar de comer.I cannot stop eating.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are at a restaurant.
- Javier¿Quieres comer ahora, Lucía?Do you want to eat now, Lucía?
- LucíaSí, tengo mucha hambre.Yes, I am very hungry.
- JavierVamos a pedir la comida.Let's order the food.
- LucíaPerfecto, me encanta este lugar.Perfect, I love this place.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry comer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
