mohoso
/moˈoso/
The English word 'moldy' is translated into Spanish as mohoso.
The term is used to describe something that is covered with or smells of the fungus that grows on old food or damp objects.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective mohoso changes its ending to agree with the noun it describes. Use mohosa for a single feminine noun, such as fruta or mohosas for multiple feminine nouns. For masculine or mixed-gender nouns, use mohosos for plural forms.
How do you pronounce it?
/moˈoso/
Did you know?
- In the context of grapes and olives, moho refers to a white powdery bloom that is often seen as a sign of high quality.
- Spanish speakers may use the phrase tener moho to describe someone who has been inactive or 'gathering dust' in a job or position for too long.
- The suffix in mohoso is a linguistic cousin to the English '-ous' found in 'poisonous', as both trace back to the Latin '-ōsus'.
Examples in context
- El queso está mohoso.The cheese is moldy.This sentence is useful for describing how the cheese is mohoso.Tatoeba #6586311 by arh, translation #6583904 by Eccles17
- El pan que dejé en la despensa está mohoso.The bread I left in the pantry is moldy.
- Deberíamos desechar estos documentos enmohecidos.We should dispose of these moldy documents.
- Tiré las manzanas porque estaban podridas.I threw away the apples because they were moldy/rotten.
- No comas eso, está mohoso.Don't eat that, it is moldy.
Example conversation
In the kitchen, Maria is checking the food in the fridge.
- María¿Hueles este queso mohoso?Do you smell this moldy cheese?
- MateoSí, huele muy mal.Yes, it smells terrible.
- MaríaLo voy a tirar a la basura.I am going to throw it in the trash.
- MateoGracias, María, es mejor así.Thanks, Maria, it's better that way.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mohoso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mohoso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
