Inklingo

How to Say "fungus" in Spanish

English → Spanish

hongo

/OHN-goh//ˈonɡo/

nounA2general
Use 'hongo' when referring to edible mushrooms, especially in culinary contexts like pizza or general food, and also in medical or biological contexts for fungal infections or types of fungi.
A single red mushroom with white spots growing in a patch of green grass.

Examples

Me encanta la pizza con hongos y queso.

I love pizza with mushrooms and cheese.

El doctor me recetó una crema para el hongo del pie.

The doctor prescribed a cream for the foot fungus.

No toques ese hongo en el bosque, podría ser venenoso.

Don't touch that mushroom in the forest, it could be poisonous.

Always Masculine

Even if you are talking about many different types of fungi, the word 'hongo' is always masculine. Use 'el' or 'los' with it.

Plural Form

To talk about more than one, simply add an '-s' to make 'hongos'.

Hongo vs. Champiñón

Mistake: “Using 'hongo' for every edible mushroom in Spain.”

Correction: In Spain, 'champiñón' refers to the common white button mushroom, while 'hongo' is more general or scientific.

seta

/seh-tah//ˈseta/

nounA2biological
Use 'seta' as a general biological or botanical term for a mushroom, often in the context of wild mushrooms or more scientific discussions about fungi.
A classic red mushroom with white spots growing in a green forest clearing.

Examples

Me encanta el risotto de setas.

I love mushroom risotto.

Ten mucho cuidado porque algunas setas son venenosas.

Be very careful because some mushrooms are poisonous.

Este otoño ha llovido mucho, así que habrá muchas setas en el bosque.

It has rained a lot this autumn, so there will be many mushrooms in the forest.

Always Feminine

Even though it refers to a plant-like organism, 'seta' is always a feminine word. Use 'la' and 'las' and make sure your adjectives end in 'a' to match it.

Seta vs. Champiñón

In Spain, people usually call the white button mushrooms you find in a supermarket 'champiñones.' The word 'setas' is reserved for more flavorful, wild, or flat-capped mushrooms.

Confusion with 'Seto'

Mistake: “El seta del jardín.”

Correction: La seta (mushroom) vs. El seto (hedge). If you change the 'a' to an 'o', you are talking about a garden bush, not a mushroom!

Hongo vs. Seta

Learners often confuse 'hongo' and 'seta' because both can mean 'mushroom.' Remember that 'hongo' is more common for edible mushrooms and in medical contexts, while 'seta' is a broader, more biological term.

Related Translations

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