Spanish Conversation · Level 148
30 words
Spanish word
morder
Pronunciation
IPA/moɾˈðeɾ/
Meaning
- verbbite
Example
¿Por qué el gato me muerde?
Why does the cat bite me?
More examples
Me puse nervioso y me mordí la lengua.
I got nervous and bit my tongue.
Core concept
Using the teeth to cut into or take a piece from something.
Common phrases
morderse las uñas
bite one's nails
morder la lengua
bite one's tongue
morder el labio
bite one's lip
Similar words
masticar: Chews food repeatedly in the mouth to break it into smaller pieces.
mordisquear: Takes small, quick bites or nibbles, done lightly and intermittently.
roer: Gnaws persistently at an object, removing small bits with the teeth.
Definition in Spanish
Con los dientes, hacer daño o tomar un trozo de algo; acción que puede ser breve o repetida según el contexto.
Word origin
The verb comes from Latin mordēre 'to bite' via the Romance languages and yields related words such as mordisco and mordida.
Usage tips
- In the present indicative many stressed forms have an o→ue stem change (yo muerdo, él muerde), so watch for muerdo rather than *mordo.