comes
“comes” means “you eat” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
you eat, are you eating
Also: do you eat
📝 In Action
¿Qué comes ahora? ¿Es una manzana?
A1What are you eating now? Is it an apple?
Tú siempre comes muy rápido.
A1You always eat very quickly.
Si no comes verduras, no creces.
A2If you don't eat vegetables, you won't grow.
you capture, you take
Also: you corrode
📝 In Action
Si mueves el peón, comes la reina de tu oponente.
B1If you move the pawn, you capture your opponent's queen.
Ese ácido es tan fuerte que comes el metal.
B2That acid is so strong that it eats away the metal. (You, the acid, are doing the action—figurative)
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: comes
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'comes' to ask about a meal?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
Comes comes from the Spanish verb 'comer,' which evolved from the Latin verb *comedere*. This Latin word literally meant 'to eat up' or 'to consume completely,' combining the prefix *com-* (meaning 'together' or 'completely') and *edere* (meaning 'to eat').
First recorded: Around the 10th-11th century in Spanish.
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'comes' irregular?
No, 'comes' is a regular conjugation of the verb 'comer.' It follows the standard pattern for all verbs that end in -er. It is only irregular in the 'yo' form (I), where it becomes 'como' instead of 'camo' (but that’s normal for -er verbs).
If I want to say 'You are eating' right now, do I need 'estar'?
You can say 'Tú estás comiendo' (using estar + the -ing form), but in Spanish, the simple present 'comes' often already carries the meaning of 'you are eating right now.' For example, '¿Qué comes?' means 'What are you eating?'