Don’t Eat That in Spanish | Say It Without Sounding Rude

In most everyday moments, “No comas eso” is the natural way to stop someone from eating a specific item.

You’re at a table. Someone reaches for a bite that looks off, mislabeled, or meant for the dog. You want the same thing in Spanish that you’d say in English, fast and clear.

This phrase has a few good Spanish options. The one you pick depends on who you’re talking to, how direct you want to be, and whether you need to point at the food or use a pronoun.

What The Core Phrase Means

The everyday backbone is a negative command: no + a command form of comer (“to eat”). With the informal singular “you” (tú), that becomes No comas. Add eso (“that”) when you’re pointing to a specific item: No comas eso.

If you want to back up what “comer” means in standard Spanish, the Real Academia Española defines it as chewing and swallowing, and also ingesting food. RAE definition of “comer” is a reliable reference.

Don’t Eat That in Spanish With The Right Level Of Directness

Spanish gives you several clean choices that all map to “don’t eat that,” with small shifts in tone. Your job is to match the moment.

Use “No comas eso” With Friends And Family

No comas eso fits daily speech with someone you speak to as tú. It’s direct, yet it can still sound caring depending on your voice.

• No comas eso, está pasado. (Don’t eat that, it’s gone bad.)
• No comas eso, tiene nueces. (Don’t eat that, it has nuts.)

Use “No coma eso” For Formal Or Polite Speech

If you’re speaking to someone as usted (a client, an older adult you don’t know well, a formal setting), swap in No coma eso. The message stays the same, the tone lands more polite.

Use “No lo comas” When The Food Is Already Known

Spanish often replaces “that” with a direct object pronoun. If the item is already clear in context, you can say No lo comas (“Don’t eat it”). You’ll also hear No la comas when the item is grammatically feminine (like la salsa).

Use “No te lo comas” To Sound A Bit More Personal

Adding te makes it feel more like “Don’t go eating it.” It can sound caring, teasing, or firm, depending on the vibe.

• No te lo comas, es para mañana. (Don’t eat it, it’s for tomorrow.)
• No te lo comas, está crudo. (Don’t eat it, it’s raw.)

Use Plural Forms When You’re Talking To A Group

Talking to several people? You can go with No coman eso (you all, Latin America and Spain) or No comáis eso (Spain, informal plural). If you want the pronoun version, No lo coman works the same way.

Why Spanish Uses Subjunctive Forms In Negative Commands

Here’s the pattern that explains why you hear comas instead of come. In Spanish, negative commands use no plus the present subjunctive form. That’s why “don’t eat” becomes no comas with tú.

If you want an academy-style reminder about commands, the RAE points out that Spanish should use true imperative forms for orders, not the infinitive (the “no + infinitive” sign style). RAE guidance on using imperative forms explains that preference.

Pronunciation That Helps You Be Understood

These phrases are short, so small sounds matter.

• No sounds like “noh,” clean and flat.
• comas is “KOH-mas,” with the stress on the first syllable.
• eso is “EH-soh.”
• lo is “loh,” fast and light.

If you want to slow it down, say it in two beats: No comas … eso. People will still catch it.

Common Situations And The Best Spanish Line

Most readers search this phrase because there’s a reason: allergies, spoiled food, mix-ups in the kitchen, or kids grabbing the wrong snack. A short follow-up clause makes your warning feel grounded and less bossy.

Food safety guidance from public health agencies lines up with the kind of moments where this phrase gets used. The CDC recommends refrigerating perishable food within 2 hours, or within 1 hour when temperatures are above 90°F, because bacteria can grow fast outside safe temperatures. CDC food safety prevention tips gives the full checklist.

Use the lines below as building blocks. Swap in your reason after the comma, and keep it plain.

Spanish Phrase	Who It Fits	When It Lands Best
No comas eso	One person (tú)	You’re pointing at a specific bite or item
No lo comas	One person (tú)	The item is already clear from context
No te lo comas	One person (tú)	You want a more personal, “don’t go doing that” feel
No coma eso	One person (usted)	Polite or formal tone
No coman eso	Group (ustedes)	Stopping several people at once
No comáis eso	Group (vosotros)	Spain, informal plural
No se lo coman	Group	You’re referring to “it” and adding “to yourselves” tone
Ni se te ocurra comértelo	One person	Playful or stern “don’t you dare” warning

Polite Add-Ons That Soften The Command

Sometimes you need the message without sounding like you’re scolding. Spanish lets you soften it with tiny add-ons.

• Por favor: No coma eso, por favor.
• Es mejor que no…: Es mejor que no comas eso.
• Creo que…: Creo que no deberías comer eso.

These work well at restaurants, at a friend’s house, or when you’re warning someone you just met.

When “That” Changes To “This,” “Those,” Or “Any Of It”

English leans on “that.” Spanish gives you choices that match where the food is and how much you mean.

• esto (this, close to you): No comas esto.
• eso (that, near the other person or already in view): No comas eso.
• aquello (that over there, farther away): No comas aquello.
• nada de eso (none of that): No comas nada de eso.

If you’re pointing at a plate right in front of the other person, eso often feels natural. If you’re holding the item in your hand, esto can fit better.

How To Add The Reason Without Rambling

A short reason turns a command into a helpful warning. Keep it tight. One clause is plenty.

• No comas eso, está vencido. (expired)
• No comas eso, huele raro. (smells odd)
• No lo comas, tiene marisco. (shellfish)
• No coma eso, no está bien cocido. (undercooked)

If the reason is food safety, lean on simple signs: smell, texture, time at room temperature, and storage conditions. The USDA’s food safety office notes that perishable foods left at room temperature longer than 2 hours should be discarded, with a 1-hour limit above 90°F. USDA FSIS leftovers and food safety guidance backs that rule.

Regional Notes You’ll Hear In Real Speech

Spanish is shared across many countries, so you’ll hear small variations. The core lines still travel well.

Voseo Forms In Parts Of Latin America

In places that use vos (Argentina, Uruguay, parts of Central America), “don’t eat” often becomes No comás. You can still add eso: No comás eso. If you aren’t sure, No comas eso is understood almost everywhere.

Diminutives And Tone

People may add a diminutive to soften tone. You might hear playful spins in casual chatter. Stick with the standard forms when you want clear, clean Spanish.

Texting And Notes: What Looks Natural

In a text message, the same phrases work. You can drop punctuation, but keep the verb form intact.

• No comas eso
• No lo comas
• No coma eso, por favor

If you add emojis, that’s style, not grammar. In formal contexts, skip them and keep the line plain.

Fast Choice Table For Real Moments

If you want one glance that picks the right phrase, use this. Start with who you’re speaking to, then pick the line.

Situation	Best Spanish Option	Short Follow-Up
Friend is about to take a bite you’re pointing at	No comas eso	Está malo.
You already talked about the item	No lo comas	Tiene moho.
Polite warning to someone you speak to as usted	No coma eso	Puede estar crudo.
Several people reaching for the same dish	No coman eso	Se quedó fuera.
Spain, informal plural group	No comáis eso	Está pasado.
Child grabbing a treat meant for later	No te lo comas	Es para después.
Playful but firm warning	Ni se te ocurra comértelo	Te vas a enfermar.

Small Grammar Notes That Prevent Awkward Mistakes

Don’t Use The Infinitive Like A Sign

You’ll see “No comer” on signs, yet in conversation it can sound stiff. The RAE’s language notes prefer true command forms when you’re speaking directly to someone. RAE note on infinitive vs. imperative lays out that distinction.

Pronoun Placement In Negative Commands

With negative commands, object pronouns go before the verb: No lo comas, not No comaslo. If you add te, it stacks the same way: No te lo comas.

Gender Agreement With “Lo/La”

Lo points to a masculine noun or a whole idea. La points to a feminine noun. If you’re talking about la pizza, you can say No la comas. If you mean the whole situation, No lo comas stays common.

Mini Practice That Sticks

Say each line out loud twice. Then swap in a reason that fits your life. That’s the fastest way to make it feel automatic.

• No comas eso, está salado.
• No lo comas, está frío.
• No coma eso, tiene alérgenos.
• No coman eso, se quedó afuera.

If you only memorize one, go with No comas eso. It fits most moments and buys you a second to explain why.