Ser pan comido
/sehr pahn koh-MEE-doh/
To be very easy to do; a piece of cake.
💡 Understanding the Idiom
🎨 Literal vs. Figurative
Literally, this means 'to be eaten bread'.
In practice, it means something is very easy, like 'a piece of cake'.
Key Words in This Idiom:
📝 In Action
El examen de matemáticas fue pan comido. Lo terminé en diez minutos.
B1The math exam was a piece of cake. I finished it in ten minutes.
No te preocupes por la receta, hacer esta tarta es pan comido.
B1Don't worry about the recipe, making this cake is easy as pie.
📜 Origin Story
This expression's origin is quite straightforward and visual. Bread, especially soft, fresh bread, has historically been a basic, staple food that requires almost no effort to eat. It doesn't need to be peeled, deboned, or cut in a special way. The idea is that if a task is as easy as eating a piece of bread, it requires almost no work at all. It's a simple, universal concept that makes the idiom easy to remember.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use it for Tasks and Challenges
This idiom is perfect for describing any task, challenge, or activity you find incredibly easy. Think exams, recipes, assembling furniture, or winning a game.
Always with 'Ser'
Remember that this phrase almost always uses the verb 'ser' (to be). You'll say something 'es pan comido' (it is a piece of cake) or 'fue pan comido' (it was a piece of cake).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't Use 'Estar'
Mistake: "Using the verb 'estar' instead of 'ser', for example, 'El examen está pan comido.'"
Correction: The idiom is a fixed expression that describes the inherent nature of the task (easy), so it uses 'ser'. Always say 'ser pan comido'.
🌎 Where It's Used
Spain
Extremely common across all regions and age groups.
Latin America
Very widely used and understood throughout Latin America. It's one of the most universal Spanish idioms.
🔗 Related Idioms
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: Ser pan comido
Question 1 of 1
If a task 'es pan comido', it is...
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'ser pan comido' in a formal or professional setting?
It's best to avoid it in very formal situations, like an academic paper or a serious business proposal. However, in everyday conversation at work with colleagues, it's perfectly fine and very common.