2 syllables: com, er. Stress on com.
KUHM-ur
/ˈkʌmɚ/
comer is pronounced KUHM-ur (/ˈkʌmɚ/). It has two syllables (com-er), with the stress on "com". Comer is a noun or verb in English and Spanish contexts. In English usage, it can mean someone who comes or attends, but it is chiefly used in Spanish to mean “to eat.” As a noun in English, it’s rare and often means a person who eats; in Latin-based languages, it most commonly appears as the infinitive “to eat.” The term can function as a borrowed word in bilingual contexts, or as part of proper names.
Comer is a noun or verb in English and Spanish contexts. In English usage, it can mean someone who comes or attends, but it is chiefly used in Spanish to mean “to eat.” As a noun in English, it’s rare and often means a person who eats; in Latin-based languages, it most commonly appears as the infinitive “to eat.” The term can function as a borrowed word in bilingual contexts, or as part of proper names.
"Spanish speakers often say quiero comer temprano, meaning I want to eat early."
"In some academic discussions, comer is used to denote someone or something that consumes resources."
"As a borrowed term in academic writing, comer might refer to the act of eating in a foreign-language quote."
In English-ish usage, you’ll generally pronounce comer as /ˈkoʊmər/, with the first syllable stressed and a rhotacized second syllable in many dialects. If used as a Spanish infinitive, it’s /koˈmer/, with emphasis on the second syllable. Mouth: start with a rounded /oʊ/ in English, then /m/ bilabial, followed by a light schwa in the final syllable. In US speech you may hear /ˈkoʊmər/, in UK /ˈkəʊmə/ or /ˈkəʊ.mɛr/ depending on context, while Australian speakers often align with /ˈkɒ.mə/ when anglicized. Audio reference: imagine the word “comma” with an extra /r/ at the end.”,
Two common mistakes: 1) Misplacing the stress or misplacing the full vowel quality in the first syllable for English contexts, resulting in /ˈkɔmər/ or /ˈkoːmə/. Correct by aligning to /ˈkoʊ.mər/ or /ˈkoː.mer/ depending on dialect; ensure the vowel quality is a pure tense /oʊ/ in English influence. 2) Neglecting the /r/ at the end, producing /ˈkoʊmu/ or /ˈkoʊmə/. Keep a light, quick postvocalic /ɹ/ or /ɾ/ depending on dialect. For Spanish contexts, avoid English diphthongization and pronounce /koˈmer/ with clear final /eɾ/ or /mer/.”,
US tends to render the first syllable with /oʊ/ and a rhotic /ɹ/ ending, giving /ˈkoʊ.mɚ/. UK often reduces the first vowel to /əʊ/ and the final r is non-rhotic, more like /ˈkəʊ.mə/. Australian tends toward /ˈkɒ.mə/ or /ˈkoː.mə/ depending on personal accent, with a softer or non-rhotic final. Emphasis remains on the first syllable in most dialects. When Spanish-influenced, refer to /koˈmer/ with stress on the second syllable.”,
The difficulty stems from cross-language vowel and consonant contrasts: English-influenced speakers may mispronounce the final rhotic or add an extra vowel, while Spanish-influenced learners struggle to preserve the final unstressed schwa or /ɾ/ in the codified form. Another challenge is maintaining clear vowel quality in the first syllable across dialects. The contrast between /oʊ/ vs /əʊ/ and the treatment of /ɹ/ vs /ɾ/ can cause confusion. Practice by isolating the final consonant and maintaining steady vowel duration in the first syllable.”,
A distinctive aspect is the potential vowel length and displacement of stress when used in Spanish as infinitive. In English contexts, stress often shifts to the first syllable, while in Spanish the stress is on the second syllable. Additionally, if integrated into bilingual menus or quotes, you may hear a hybrid: /ˈkoʊ.mer/ in English contexts vs /koˈmer/ in Spanish. This dual behavior makes it a good test case for practicing both English and Spanish phonology in parallel.
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Comer originates from the Latin com- and -ere, with com- meaning “together” and -ere indicating the verb form. In Latin, comere referred to the act of consuming, devouring, or using together, a sense preserved in Romance languages. The term entered Old Spanish as comer, aligning with the infinitive form meaning “to eat.” In English, comer appeared as a borrowing and early use often related to someone who eats or as part of phrases connected to consumption, though it remains relatively rare as a standalone noun. Its semantic shift is tied to bilingual contexts where Spanish-speaking speakers code-switch; in such contexts comer can appear on menus or dialogues about eating. The word’s earliest Latin ancestors can be traced to classical Latin comere, though the precise earliest attestations in English are less documented, generally aligning with medieval borrowings from Occitan or Spanish that reflect the action of eating. Over time, comer’s usage in English narrowed to occasional borrowed phrases, while in Spanish it remains the infinitive verb “to eat.” Today, you’ll encounter comer in bilingual writing, culinary contexts, and in discussions of language contact, where the word carries its original meaning or functions as a proper name in some cases.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "comer" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "comer" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "comer"
-ber sounds
-mer sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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