How to Say "mushroom" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “mushroom” is “hongo” — use 'hongo' as the general term for any type of fungus, including edible mushrooms found in dishes like pizza..
hongo
/OHN-goh//ˈonɡo/
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/
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!
General vs. Specific Mushroom Terms
Related Translations
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