Objective: to analyze the understanding and interpretation of the Salzburg Emotional Eating (SEES) in its version adapted to Spanish using cognitive interviews in mexican undergraduates. Method: the sample comprised 12 participants (18-23 years; M = 20, SD = 1,81) from a public university in the southern area of Jalisco, Mexico. The students completed the SEES and individually participated in a semi-structured cognitive interview. Results: the SEES adapted to Spanish was reported to be understandable and without problems for its interpretation, being appropriate in its cultural equivalence. Among the difficulties reported, the differentiation between similar emotions (for example, “happy” and “content”) stood out. For future studies, it is suggested to analyzed its understanding in different populations in order to continue amplifying the knowledge of cognitive processes in the SEES in the Mexican population.