ingerir
“ingerir” means “to ingest” in Spanish (taking food, drink, or medicine into the body).
to ingest
Also: to consume, to swallow
📝 In Action
El paciente no debe ingerir nada sólido antes del examen.
B1The patient must not ingest anything solid before the exam.
Es peligroso ingerir alcohol mientras se toman estos antibióticos.
B2It is dangerous to consume alcohol while taking these antibiotics.
Las aves marinas pueden morir al ingerir plásticos del océano.
C1Seabirds can die by swallowing plastics from the ocean.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ingerir
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence uses 'ingerir' correctly in a formal medical context?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin verb 'ingerere', which combines 'in' (into) and 'gerere' (to carry or bring). So, it literally means 'to carry into' the body.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'ingerir' the same as 'comer'?
Not exactly. While they both involve eating, 'ingerir' is the technical/biological term for taking something into the body. You wouldn't use 'ingerir' to talk about enjoying a delicious meal.
Can 'ingerir' be used for liquids?
Yes! It covers both solid food and liquids, as well as pills or medicine.
Why does the 'e' change to 'i' in 'ingirieron'?
This is a common pattern for '-ir' verbs that change their stems. When the ending has an 'ie' sound (like -ieron), the stem 'e' simplifies to an 'i'.