Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| comida | /koˈmida/ | feminine |
| alimento | /aliˈmento/ | masculine |
| víveres | /ˈbibeɾes/ | masculine, plural |
| gueish | /ɡeis/ (from spelling rules) | El Salvador, masculine |
| manyé | /manʝe/ (from spelling rules) | Dominican Republic, feminine |
| conducho (disused) | masculine |
Spanish uses different words for food depending on whether you are discussing biological nourishment, specific meals or stockpiled supplies. While comida is the standard term for food and meals, alimento refers to food in a more nutritional or biological sense. Víveres is used specifically for food supplies or provisions, such as during relief efforts or when stockpiling.
Which one should you use?
Comida is the everyday word for food, but it is also the standard term for a specific meal, such as lunch. In contrast, alimento is more formal and focuses on the concept of food as nourishment. Víveres is a plural noun used for provisions or supplies.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In El Salvador, the masculine term gueish is used for food. In the Dominican Republic, the feminine term manyé is used. In Spain, the term alimentación is used when discussing proper nutrition or a balanced diet.
How does it change in a sentence?
Alimento and comida are singular nouns. Víveres is a masculine plural noun. The term conducho is a masculine noun that is now disused.
How do you pronounce it?
/koˈmida/
Did you know?
Examples in context
- No les daré comida.I will not give them food.This sentence shows how to use comida in a negative statement.Tatoeba #9237593 by ecorralest101, translation #7356216 by MarijnKp
- La comida está fría.The food is cold.This sentence demonstrates the use of comida to describe the temperature of food.Tatoeba #1258384 by marcelostockle, translation #325769 by CK
- La comida es escasa.Food is scarce.This sentence illustrates how to describe the availability of comida.Tatoeba #9165701 by ignacio, translation #9165685 by CK
- El alimento que consumimos es de alta calidadThe food we consume is of high quality
- El sustento diario es fundamental para nuestra saludDaily sustenance is crucial for our health
- Me encanta la comida italianaI love Italian food
- Vamos a preparar una rica comiditaLet's make a delicious little meal
- Me encanta cocinar diferentes comiditas experimentando con sabores y texturasI love cooking various little meals, experimenting with flavors and textures
- La navidad siempre es una época de grandes comilonasChristmas is always a time for big feasts
- Hoy disfruté de una deliciosa comida italiana en el restauranteToday, I enjoyed a delicious Italian meal at the restaurant
- La comida tradicional mexicana es conocida por sus sabores y colores vibrantesTraditional Mexican food is known for its vibrant flavors and colors
- 735 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- Alejandro¿Quieres cocinar algo hoy, Sofía?Do you want to cook something today, Sofía?
- SofíaNo, prefiero pedir comida a domicilio.No, I prefer to order food delivery.
- AlejandroEstá bien, ¿qué tipo de comida quieres?That's fine, what kind of food do you want?
- SofíaTal vez algo de comida italiana.Maybe some Italian food.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “food” translations and entries comida, alimento, víveres, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alimento, comida, víveres, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
