Which one should you use?
The default form ¿Estás gordo? implies a temporary condition or a change in weight. In contrast, using the verb ser in the form ¿Eres gordo? implies that being fat is a defining trait or a permanent characteristic of the person.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are several ways to express this depending on the situation. To be more polite or clinical, you can use ¿Tienes sobrepeso? instead of the blunt ¿Estás gordo? In a formal context, you can use ¿Es usted una persona obesa? (Are you an obese person?) or ¿Tiene usted sobrepeso? (Do you have excess weight?). For informal settings, you can use ¿Eres gordo/a? or ¿Tienes sobrepeso?
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are asking a woman if she is fat, you must use the feminine form ¿Estás gorda? instead of the masculine gordo.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone gordo or gorda can be used as a term of endearment between couples or close friends.
- The word gordo is also used in the expression el gordo, which in Spain can refer to the first prize of a major Christmas lottery.
- The word gordo shares an ancestral root with the English word 'gravity', as both stem from a concept of weight or heaviness.
Example conversation
Javier and María are talking about a doctor's visit.
- MaríaEl doctor te examinó hoy.The doctor examined you today.
- JavierSí, y me preguntó: ¿estás gordo?Yes, and he asked me: are you fat?
- María¡Qué pregunta tan directa!What a direct question!
- JavierLo fue, pero es verdad.It was, but it is true.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gordo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
