¡A comer! means "Let's eat!" or "Time to eat!" It is one of the first phrases you hear in any Spanish-speaking home, usually shouted from the kitchen when the food is ready.

The structure behind it, a + infinitive, works with almost any verb. With just two words you can invite people to do something, give a friendly order, or announce that it is time to start an activity: ¡A dormir!, ¡A trabajar!, ¡A bailar!

Literal meaning vs. real meaning

Word for word, a comer is "to eat."

• a = to
• comer = to eat (infinitive)

On its own that doesn't sound like a complete sentence, and that is because it isn't. It is a short version of a longer phrase such as vamos a comer ("we're going to eat") or es hora de comer ("it's time to eat"). Spanish simply drops the first part and keeps the essential bit.

The verb never changes. It always stays in the infinitive, no matter who you are talking to: one child, a group of friends or your whole family.

How to use it

Use a + infinitive as an exclamation, on its own or followed by a short explanation. The tone is energetic and friendly, so it is perfect for family, friends and informal situations.

Notice that the same structure can sound like an invitation (¡A bailar!) or a friendly order (¡A dormir!). The context and your tone of voice decide which one it is.

Similar expressions

All of these can express the same idea: ¡A comer!, Vamos a comer, Es hora de comer and Ya toca comer. The shortest one is simply the most direct and the most fun.

Common mistakes

• Conjugating the verb. "¡A comemos!" or "¡A comen!" is incorrect. After a, the verb always stays in the infinitive: ¡A comer!
• Forgetting the a. "¡Comer!" on its own sounds like an instruction on a sign, not something a person would shout. Keep the a: ¡A comer!
• Confusing a comer with al comer. Al + infinitive means "when" or "upon": Al comer, hablamos = "While eating, we talked." It is a completely different structure.

A related structure: a + place or noun

Spanish uses the same idea with nouns, especially places:

• ¡A la cama! = Off to bed!
• ¡A la mesa! = Come to the table!
• ¡A la ducha! = Into the shower!
• ¡A clase! = Off to class!

Parents use these all day long. In many homes, ¡A la mesa! is just as common as ¡A comer!

Practice

Translate these sentences into Spanish using a + infinitive:

1. Let's dance!
2. Dinner's ready. Time to eat!
3. It's late, kids. Bedtime!
4. Lunch break is over. Back to work!

Answers: 1. ¡A bailar! 2. La cena está lista. ¡A comer! 3. Es tarde, niños. ¡A dormir! 4. Se acabó la hora de comer. ¡A trabajar!

Now you have everything you need. Pick a verb, put an a in front of it, and say it with energy. And now… ¡a practicar!