Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| no fumar | /ˌno fuˈmaɾ/ |
| se prohíbe fumar | /se pɾoibe fumaɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
| prohibido fumar | /pɾoiˌbido fuˈmaɾ/ |
These phrases are used in notices to indicate that smoking cigarettes is not permitted.
Which one should you use?
no fumar is the most common and direct way to say "no smoking" on signs, whereas prohibido fumar is slightly more formal and emphatic.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase no fumar is a formal way to express the prohibition. For a more formal and emphatic tone, you can use prohibido fumar (smoking is prohibited) or se prohíbe fumar (smoking is prohibited), the latter of which is an impersonal construction often found in official legal notices or institutional settings. Other formal variations include no se permite fumar (smoking is not allowed) and se ruega no fumar (please do not smoke), which is used for polite requests. In an informal context, you might say por favor, no fumes aquí (please don't smoke here).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase no fumar uses the infinitive form of the verb fumar (to smoke) to express a general prohibition.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌno fuˈmaɾ/
Did you know?
- The word fumar likely entered Spanish through Middle French 'fumer' rather than directly from Latin.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the phrase prohibido fumar is often accompanied by a red circle with a diagonal slash, following international ISO standards.
Examples in context
- Está prohibido fumar en esta estación.No smoking is allowed in this train station.This sentence is useful for showing how to use prohibido fumar to state that smoking is not allowed in a specific location.Tatoeba #2207286 by marcelostockle, translation #1849556 by Eldad
- Prohibido fumar.No smoking.This sentence is a direct example of the sign prohibido fumar.Tatoeba #2055517 by Shishir, translation #2053899 by halfb1t
- Por favor abróchense el cinturón de su asiento y observen la señal de "NO FUMAR" hasta que se apague.Please fasten your seat belt and observe the "no smoking" sign until it is turned off.This sentence shows how to refer to a "no smoking" sign using no fumar.Tatoeba #1656561 by teskmon, translation #53898 by CM
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are inside a quiet cafe.
- AlejandroMira el cartel, allí dice no fumar.Look at the sign, it says no smoking there.
- ElenaTienes razón, Alejandro. No podemos encender el cigarrillo.You are right, Alejandro. We cannot light the cigarette.
- AlejandroEs mejor ir al balcón.It is better to go to the balcony.
- ElenaDe acuerdo, vamos afuera.Agreed, let's go outside.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “no smoking” translations and entries no fumar, prohibido fumar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fumar, no, prohibido fumar, se, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
