Inklingo

How to Say "to eat" in Spanish

English → Spanish

comer

/koh-mehr//koˈmeɾ/

VerbA1General
Use 'comer' when referring to the general act of consuming food, from full meals to snacks.
A happy person sitting at a table and taking a large bite out of a red apple, illustrating the act of eating.

Examples

Me encanta comer helado en verano.

I love to eat ice cream in the summer.

Me gusta comer pasta los viernes.

I like to eat pasta on Fridays.

¿A qué hora comemos hoy?

What time are we eating/having lunch today?

Anoche comimos en un restaurante nuevo.

Last night we ate at a new restaurant.

Using 'Comer' for Meals

In Spain, 'comer' often specifically means 'to have lunch'. In many parts of Latin America, 'almorzar' is used for lunch, and 'comer' can refer to the main meal of the day, which might be dinner.

'Comer' vs. 'Tomar'

Mistake: “Voy a comer un café.”

Correction: Voy a tomar un café. Generally, use 'tomar' for drinks and 'comer' for food. It's a bit like saying 'take' a coffee instead of 'eat' a coffee.

tomar

/toh-MAHR//toˈmaɾ/

VerbA1General
Use 'tomar' when referring to having a light meal, a snack, or a drink.
A close-up of a hand holding and lifting a white ceramic mug filled with steaming coffee towards the mouth.

Examples

¿Quieres tomar algo rápido antes de irnos?

Do you want to have something quick before we go?

¿Quieres tomar un café conmigo?

Do you want to have a coffee with me?

Vamos a tomar unas tapas por el centro.

Let's go have some tapas downtown.

No tomo alcohol, gracias. Prefiero agua.

I don't drink alcohol, thanks. I prefer water.

alimentar

/ah-lee-men-TAR//ali.menˈtaɾ/

VerbA2General
Use 'alimentar' when the focus is on nourishment, feeding oneself properly, or the manner of eating for health.
A person sitting at a simple wooden table, happily eating a bowl of fresh fruit salad.

Examples

Los deportistas deben alimentarse bien para rendir al máximo.

Athletes must nourish themselves well to perform at their best.

Necesitas alimentarte mejor para tener energía.

You need to feed yourself better (or: eat better) to have energy.

Los osos se alimentan principalmente de bayas y pescado.

Bears feed primarily on berries and fish.

Nos alimentamos con productos frescos de la granja.

We feed ourselves with fresh products from the farm.

The Action Bounces Back

When you use 'alimentarse,' the action of feeding comes back to the person doing the action. You must include the little word ('me,' 'te,' 'se,' 'nos') before the verb to show this.

Using 'De' for Source

If you want to say WHAT someone eats, use the preposition 'de' (of/from) instead of 'con' (with): 'Se alimenta de carne' (He feeds on meat).

Forgetting the Pronoun

Mistake: “Él alimenta de frutas. (Missing the reflexive pronoun.)”

Correction: Él *se* alimenta de frutas. (He feeds himself on fruits.)

General Eating vs. Specific Meals

Learners often confuse 'comer' with 'tomar'. Remember that 'comer' is the default for eating any food, while 'tomar' is specifically for lighter items like snacks, coffee, or a quick bite.

Related Translations

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