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hongos

/OHN-gohs/

mushrooms

A cluster of red and white spotted mushrooms growing on a mossy forest floor.

Hongos can refer to mushrooms found in nature or used as food.

hongos(noun)

mA1

mushrooms

?

edible or wild fungi

Also:

fungi

?

the biological group

📝 In Action

Me gusta la pizza con muchos hongos.

A1

I like pizza with a lot of mushrooms.

Hay muchos hongos de colores en el bosque.

A2

There are many colorful mushrooms in the forest.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • setas (wild mushrooms)
  • champiñones (button mushrooms)

Common Collocations

  • hongos comestibles – edible mushrooms
  • hongos silvestres – wild mushrooms

💡 Grammar Points

Making it plural

Since this word ends in a vowel, you just add an 's' to 'hongo' to talk about more than one.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Hongos vs. Setas

Mistake: "Using 'hongos' exclusively for everything you eat in Spain."

Correction: While 'hongos' is correct, people in Spain usually say 'setas' for the mushrooms on their plate.

⭐ Usage Tips

A general term

Think of 'hongos' as the big family name for everything from the mushrooms on your pizza to the mold on old bread.

A microscopic view of colorful, rounded fungal spores and branching filaments.

Hongos also refers to fungus in a biological or medical context.

hongos(noun)

mB1

fungus

?

medical infections

Also:

mold

?

growth on food or surfaces

📝 In Action

Tengo hongos en los pies por ir al gimnasio.

B1

I have a fungal infection on my feet from going to the gym.

Limpia la pared, tiene muchos hongos por la humedad.

B2

Clean the wall; it has a lot of mold because of the humidity.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • moho (mold)
  • micosis (fungal infection)

Common Collocations

  • crema para los hongos – antifungal cream
  • hongos en las uñas – nail fungus

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'tener'

When talking about having an infection, we use the verb 'tener' (to have) followed by 'hongos'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Medical context

In a pharmacy, just saying 'tengo hongos' is enough for them to know you need antifungal treatment.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: hongos

Question 1 of 2

If you are at a restaurant in Mexico and want mushrooms on your steak, what do you ask for?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

hongo(mushroom/fungus (singular)) - noun
fúngico(fungal) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'hongos' always masculine?

Yes, even if you are talking about many different types, it is always 'los hongos'.

What is the difference between 'hongos' and 'champiñones'?

'Hongos' is the general word for all fungi. 'Champiñones' usually refers specifically to the common white button mushrooms you find in grocery stores.