moho
/ˈmoo/masculine
The Spanish word for mold (the furry or woolly growth of tiny fungi) is moho. Wiktionary also lists mufa.
Meaning: furry or woolly growth of tiny fungi (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| moho | /ˈmoo/ | masculine |
| mufa | /ˈmufa/ | feminine |
The word moho is used to refer to the biological fungus that grows on surfaces.
Which one should you use?
While moho refers specifically to the biological fungus, the word mufa is a different term used to mean bad luck or a jinx.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Spanish-speaking regions, mufa is used colloquially to mean bad luck or a jinx.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of moho is mohos.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmoo/
Did you know?
- The word mufa actually comes from the Italian word muffa, which refers to the same biological fungus, though it has evolved into a term for a 'jinx' in Spanish.
- In Argentina and Uruguay, saying mufa can refer to a jinx, and fans of sports teams often avoid certain rituals to prevent a mufa from ruining a game.
- The Spanish moho and the Portuguese mofo are closely related, though they differ by a single consonant.
Examples in context
- En las botas crecieron mohos.Mold grew on the boots.This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe mold growing on an object using moho.Tatoeba #5300936 by mervert1, translation #278113 by CK
- La comida guardada por mucho tiempo puede desarrollar moho.Food that has been stored for a long time can develop mold.
- No comas ese pan, tiene hongos.Don't eat that bread, it has mold.
- No guardes tus libros en el sótano, pueden terminar mohosos.Don't store your books in the basement, they might end up moldy.
- Hay moho en el pan.There is mold on the bread.
- El moho cubría la pared húmeda.Mold covered the damp wall.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are looking through the pantry in their kitchen.
- LucíaMateo, mira, este queso tiene mucho moho.Mateo, look, this cheese has a lot of mold.
- MateoEs verdad, mejor tíralo a la basura.It is true, better throw it in the trash.
- Lucía¿Viste si hay moho en la fruta también?Did you see if there is mold on the fruit too?
- MateoNo, la fruta parece estar bien.No, the fruit seems to be fine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mold” translations and entries moho, mufa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries moho, mufa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
