qué comen

what do they eat

qué comen(keh koh-mehn)

phrase

1. (in questions; third person plural)

a. what do they eat

¿Qué comen en esta zona cuando el mar está muy bravo y los pescadores no pueden salir a pescar?

What do they eat in this area when the sea is too rough and the fishermen can't go out to fish?

b. what are they eating

¿Qué comen en esa mesa? - Eso son enchiladas.

What are they eating at that table? - That's enchiladas.

2. (in statements; third person plural)

a. what they eat

Alberto nunca deja comida preparada a sus hijos. No sé qué comen cuando se quedan solos en casa.

Alberto never leaves any cooked food for his children. I don't know what they eat when they're home alone.

b. what they're eating

¿Ves a estas personas de la imagen? Por favor, dime qué comen.

See these people in the picture? Please tell me what they're eating.

3. (in questions; second person plural)

a. what do you eat

¿Qué comen cuando van a caminar al campo?

What do you eat when you go hiking in the countryside?

b. what are you eating

Perdón, ¿qué comen ustedes? - Esto son boquerones fritos.

Excuse me, what are you eating? - These are fried battered anchovies.