comen
/KOH-men/
they eat
Comen means 'they eat'. Here, two friends are enjoying a meal together.
comen(Verb)
they eat
?referring to a group of people or things
,you (plural/formal) eat
?referring to 'ustedes' in Latin America or formal Spain
they are eating
?present action
📝 In Action
Los niños siempre comen pasta los martes.
A1The children always eat pasta on Tuesdays.
¿Ustedes comen la cena muy tarde aquí?
A2Do you all eat dinner very late here?
Mis padres comen mucha verdura para estar sanos.
A1My parents eat a lot of vegetables to be healthy.
💡 Grammar Points
Who is 'comen'?
This form is used for two subjects: 'ellos' (they, masculine or mixed group), 'ellas' (they, feminine group), and 'ustedes' (you all, the plural formal address).
Regular -ER Verb
The verb 'comer' follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -er. Just drop the -er and add the correct ending (-en for the 'they/you all' form).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Comen' and 'Comen'
Mistake: "Using 'comen' (they eat) when you mean 'comemos' (we eat)."
Correction: Remember 'comen' is for 'ellos/ustedes' (they/you all), while 'comemos' is for 'nosotros' (we).
⭐ Usage Tips
Implied Subject
If the subject is clear from context (e.g., 'Los turistas'), you don't need to say 'ellos' or 'ellas'. Just 'Los turistas comen' is enough.
When referring to resources or energy, comen means 'they consume', like this lightbulb consuming electricity.
comen(Verb)
they consume
?resources/energy
,they take up
?space or time
they use up
?time or budget
📝 In Action
Estas nuevas máquinas comen mucha electricidad.
B1These new machines consume a lot of electricity.
Los trámites burocráticos siempre comen mucho tiempo.
B2Bureaucratic processes always take up a lot of time.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
When 'comen' is used figuratively, it often refers to things (like machines or processes) being the subject, rather than people.
Comen can also mean 'they corrode', often referring to how elements like rust or acid damage materials.
📝 In Action
Los ácidos fuertes comen el metal lentamente.
B2Strong acids corrode the metal slowly.
En el ajedrez, los peones a veces comen a los caballos.
C1In chess, the pawns sometimes capture the knights.
⭐ Usage Tips
Board Games
When talking about games like chess, 'comer' is the standard verb used to say a piece takes another piece.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: comen
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'comen' in its figurative sense (not meaning actual food)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'comen' the same as 'están comiendo'?
They are very close! 'Comen' (They eat) describes a habit or a general fact ('They eat dinner at 8'). 'Están comiendo' (They are eating) describes the action happening right this second ('Look, they are eating right now'). In spoken Spanish, 'comen' can sometimes be used for the immediate action too, but 'están comiendo' is more specific.
Can I use 'comen' for things that aren't people?
Yes, absolutely! 'Comen' is used for any plural subject. For example, 'Los pájaros comen semillas' (The birds eat seeds) or 'Los virus comen espacio en el disco duro' (Viruses consume hard drive space).