alimento
/ah-lee-MEN-toh/
food
Alimento as general nourishment, such as this fresh fruit.
alimento(noun)
food
?general term for nourishment
,nourishment
?substance that promotes life
provision
?supply of food
📝 In Action
Necesitas comer alimentos frescos para estar sano.
A1You need to eat fresh food to be healthy.
El arroz es un alimento básico en muchas culturas.
A2Rice is a staple food in many cultures.
¿Qué tipo de alimento le das a tu perro?
A1What kind of food do you give your dog?
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Check
Remember that 'alimento' is masculine, so you must use 'el' or 'un' before it: 'el alimento'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'alimento' and 'comida'
Mistake: "Using 'alimento' when referring to a specific meal (e.g., 'el alimento de la noche')."
Correction: Use 'comida' for a specific meal (lunch, dinner). 'Alimento' refers more to the general substance or category of food, often used in formal or nutritional contexts.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Contexts
While 'comida' is more common in daily speech, 'alimento' is often preferred in formal, scientific, or nutritional discussions.
Alimento can also refer to figurative sustenance or support for growth.
alimento(noun)
sustenance
?figurative support or nourishment
,fuel
?what powers an activity or thought
input
?information or material provided
📝 In Action
La lectura es alimento para el alma y la mente.
B1Reading is food/nourishment for the soul and the mind.
Su ambición era el principal alimento de sus acciones.
B2His ambition was the main fuel for his actions.
⭐ Usage Tips
Metaphorical Use
Think of 'alimento' here as 'what feeds' an abstract concept. If you can say 'X feeds Y' in English, 'alimento' often works well for X in Spanish.
Financial support paid after divorce is another meaning of alimento.
alimento(noun)
alimony
?financial support after divorce
,maintenance
?legal financial support for dependents (child/spousal support)
subsistence allowance
?legal term
📝 In Action
El juez dictaminó una cuota de alimento mensual para los hijos.
C1The judge ruled a monthly maintenance payment for the children.
La obligación de alimento cesa cuando el beneficiario encuentra empleo.
C2The obligation of alimony/maintenance ceases when the beneficiary finds employment.
💡 Grammar Points
Legal Term
This meaning is almost always used in a legal or bureaucratic setting, often appearing in the phrase 'pensión de alimentos' (maintenance payment).
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
If you hear 'alimento' in a discussion about divorce or legal obligations, assume it means financial support, not physical food.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: alimento
Question 1 of 2
Which Spanish sentence correctly uses 'alimento' in its figurative meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'alimento' the same as 'comida'?
'Alimento' (food substance) is more formal or general than 'comida' (meal, or food in general). You usually say 'la hora de la comida' (lunch time) but 'los alimentos nutritivos' (nutritious foods).
How do I remember that 'alimento' is masculine?
Since it ends in -o, it follows the common pattern for masculine nouns. You use 'el' before it, like 'el alimento'.