¿fumas?
The English phrase "do you smoke?" is translated into Spanish as ¿fumas?
This phrase is used to ask if someone has a habit of smoking tobacco.
Which one should you use?
While English uses the same phrase for both formal and informal situations, Spanish distinguishes between the informal ¿fumas? and the formal ¿fuma usted?
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, you may encounter the regional variation ¿Fumas, vos? to ask "Do you smoke?"
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form ¿fumas? uses the 'tú' conjugation. Use ¿fuma usted? when addressing someone formally. If you are asking a group of people if they smoke, use the plural form ¿fuman?
Did you know?
- The word fumar is used metaphorically in some slang to describe someone who is daydreaming or 'spaced out', similar to the English expression 'smoking' in certain contexts.
- Depending on the region, if someone replies ya no to ¿fumas?, they are not saying 'not yet' but rather 'I don't anymore', implying they successfully quit the habit.
- The word fumar is a cognate of the English word 'fume', both deriving from the Latin word fumus meaning 'smoke'.
Examples in context
- No, no fumoNo, I don't smoke
- Sí, fumo mucho.Yes, I smoke a lot.
- Perdón, ¿fumas?Excuse me, do you smoke?
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are talking during a break at work.
- DanielSofía, ¿fumas?Sofía, do you smoke?
- SofíaNo, yo no fumo.No, I don't smoke.
- DanielVale, entonces me voy solo.Okay, then I'll go by myself.
- SofíaEstá bien, Daniel.That's fine, Daniel.
