¿estás comiendo?
The English phrase "are you eating?" is translated into Spanish as ¿estás comiendo?
This phrase is a question used to inquire whether someone is currently in the process of eating.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase estás comiendo literally means "you are eating". It is composed of the verb estar (to be) conjugated for tú and the gerund comiendo (eating).
Which one should you use?
You should use ¿están comiendo? when asking a group of people if they are eating.
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing someone with the formal usted instead of the informal tú, you must use the form ¿está comiendo?
Did you know?
- The verb comer is used in the common idiom comerse el coco, which means to obsess over something or overthink a problem. Literally, this translates to 'eating one's own coconut' or head.
- While English speakers use 'eating' for any food, a Spanish speaker might specifically use comiendo for meals, but switch to merendando if the person is having a light afternoon snack.
- While ¿estás comiendo? asks about the current moment, Spanish speakers often use the simple present ¿comes? to ask if someone is currently eating or if they eat a certain food in general.
Examples in context
- ¿Estás comiendo algo ahora?Are you eating something right now?
Example conversation
Daniel calls María on the phone.
- DanielHola María, ¿estás comiendo?Hi María, are you eating?
- MaríaSí, estoy cenando. ¿Qué pasa?Yes, I am having dinner. What's up?
- DanielSolo quería hacerte una pregunta.I just wanted to ask you a question.
- MaríaLlamo en diez minutos.I'll call in ten minutes.
