almuerzo
/ahl-MWEHR-soh/
lunch
The noun almuerzo refers to the midday meal, or lunch.
📝 In Action
¿A qué hora es el almuerzo?
A1What time is lunch?
Necesito preparar mi almuerzo antes de salir.
A2I need to prepare my lunch before leaving.
El menú del almuerzo de hoy es pollo con arroz.
B1Today's lunch menu is chicken and rice.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun
As a masculine noun, 'almuerzo' always uses the masculine articles 'el' or 'un'. Remember: el almuerzo, un buen almuerzo.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'La' instead of 'El'
Mistake: "La almuerzo."
Correction: El almuerzo. Spanish nouns have fixed gender, and 'almuerzo' is always masculine.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Big Meal
In Spain and many parts of Latin America, 'el almuerzo' (or 'la comida') is often the largest, most important meal of the day, eaten later than in English-speaking countries (typically 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM).
The verb form almuerzo means 'I eat lunch.'
almuerzo(verb)
I eat lunch
?1st person present tense
I have lunch
?1st person present tense
📝 In Action
Yo siempre almuerzo con mis compañeros de trabajo.
A1I always eat lunch with my coworkers.
Hoy no almuerzo en casa, saldré con mi madre.
A2Today I am not having lunch at home; I will go out with my mother.
💡 Grammar Points
Stem Change: O to UE
The verb 'almorzar' is special. When you use it in the present tense, the 'o' changes to 'ue' in most forms (like 'almuerzo' and 'almuerzas'), but NOT in the 'nosotros' or 'vosotros' forms (almorzamos, almorzáis).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing the 'O-UE' change
Mistake: "Yo almorzo tarde."
Correction: Yo almuerzo tarde. Remember the vowel 'o' in the middle changes to 'ue' when you say 'I' or 'you' or 'he/she/they'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Preterite Z to C change
When talking about having lunch in the past (the simple past tense), the 'z' changes to a 'c' only for the 'yo' form: 'Yo almorcé' (I had lunch). This keeps the sound consistent.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: almuerzo
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses the noun form of 'almuerzo'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'almuerzo' the same as 'comida'?
'Almuerzo' specifically means 'lunch' (the midday meal). 'Comida' is a more general word that can mean 'food' or 'a meal' in general. However, in Spain and some other regions, 'la comida' is commonly used to refer to 'lunch' because it is the main meal of the day.
How do I know if I should use the noun or the verb form?
If you are talking about the meal itself (the food or event), use the noun ('El almuerzo fue delicioso'). If you are describing the action of eating that meal, use the verb form ('Yo almuerzo a la una').