How do I know whether to use 'moho' or 'molde'?

Ask yourself: are you talking about a fungal growth or about a container for shaping something? If it is the green or black growth on food, walls, or damp surfaces, use 'moho.' If it is a pan, template, or form for casting or baking, use 'molde.' The two words are completely unrelated in Spanish.

How do you say 'moldy' in Spanish?

The adjective for 'moldy' is 'mohoso' (masculine) or 'mohosa' (feminine): 'pan mohoso' (moldy bread), 'pared mohosa' (moldy wall). It derives directly from 'moho' with the adjective suffix '-oso.'

What is the verb 'to mold' in Spanish?

The verb 'to mold' in the sense of shaping something is 'moldear': 'moldear la arcilla' (to mold the clay). There is no verb derived from 'moho' for the fungal sense; instead, you would say 'cubrirse de moho' (to become covered in mold) or 'enmohecerse' (to become moldy).

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

How to Say Mold in Spanish: Moho and Molde

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Moho / Molde · noun · MOH-oh (moho) / MOHL-deh (molde)

In Spanish, the English word 'mold' splits into two completely different words depending on meaning. 'Moho' (el moho) refers to mold as a fungus — the unwanted growth you find on food, walls, or damp surfaces. 'Molde' (el molde) refers to a mold as a form or template used for shaping things, such as a cake mold or a casting mold. Both are masculine nouns, but they are unrelated in origin and meaning. There is also the verb 'moldear' (to mold or shape something), derived from 'molde.'

'Moho' is pronounced MOH-oh. The 'h' is completely silent in Spanish, so the word sounds like two open 'o' sounds with a brief glottal transition. 'Molde' is pronounced MOHL-deh, with the stress on the first syllable and a clear 'l' before the 'd.'

Encontré moho en la pared del baño.

I found mold on the bathroom wall.

Mold in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for mold, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
moho / molde	mold	MOH-oh (moho) / MOHL-deh (molde)	Default, widely understood
moho	mold		fungus/mildew, universal
molde	mold		a mold for shaping, universal

How Native Speakers Use Moho / Molde

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Mold as fungus on food

El queso tiene moho; no deberías comerlo.

The cheese has mold; you shouldn't eat it.

'Moho' refers to the greenish or whitish fungal growth. Some cheeses are intentionally aged with mold, in which case you might still say 'queso con moho' or 'queso azul' (blue cheese).

Mold as a baking form

Vertí la masa en el molde y lo metí al horno.

I poured the batter into the mold and put it in the oven.

'Molde' here is a baking pan or form. 'Molde para pastel' (cake mold) and 'molde de silicona' (silicone mold) are common compound terms.

Mold as a household problem

Hay que limpiar el moho del techo antes de que se extienda.

We need to clean the mold from the ceiling before it spreads.

Household mold is always 'moho.' Related vocabulary includes 'humedad' (humidity/dampness), 'hongo' (fungus), and 'mancha de moho' (mold stain).

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Moho / Molde

Using 'molde' when you mean fungus

Incorrect: Hay molde en la pared por la humedad.

Correct: Hay moho en la pared por la humedad.

'Molde' is a shaping form, not a fungus. The mold that grows on walls due to humidity is 'moho.' These two words look somewhat similar in English, but they are completely different in Spanish.

Making 'moho' feminine

Incorrect: La moho del pan es peligrosa.

Correct: El moho del pan es peligroso.

'Moho' is a masculine noun (el moho), so all adjectives and articles must be masculine: 'el moho peligroso,' not 'la moho peligrosa.'

Lock in Mold Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Moho / Molde used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using moho / molde in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Encontré moho en la pared del baño. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Mold in Spanish

How do I know whether to use 'moho' or 'molde'?: Ask yourself: are you talking about a fungal growth or about a container for shaping something? If it is the green or black growth on food, walls, or damp surfaces, use 'moho.' If it is a pan, template, or form for casting or baking, use 'molde.' The two words are completely unrelated in Spanish.
How do you say 'moldy' in Spanish?: The adjective for 'moldy' is 'mohoso' (masculine) or 'mohosa' (feminine): 'pan mohoso' (moldy bread), 'pared mohosa' (moldy wall). It derives directly from 'moho' with the adjective suffix '-oso.'
What is the verb 'to mold' in Spanish?: The verb 'to mold' in the sense of shaping something is 'moldear': 'moldear la arcilla' (to mold the clay). There is no verb derived from 'moho' for the fungal sense; instead, you would say 'cubrirse de moho' (to become covered in mold) or 'enmohecerse' (to become moldy).