hueles a queso
/weles a keso/from spelling rules
The English phrase "you smell like cheese" is translated into Spanish as hueles a queso.
This phrase is used to tell someone that their body or clothes have the scent of cheese. Note that while English uses the word "like" to make this comparison, Spanish uses the preposition a after the verb to indicate the scent being emitted.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb oler (to smell) in the second-person singular present tense, the preposition a (of/to) and queso (cheese).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the verb changes depending on who you are talking about. To change the subject from "you" to "he", "she" or "it", change the verb from hueles to huele. To address a group of people (you plural), use the form huelen a queso.
Did you know?
- The word queso is used in the slang expression estar hecho un queso, which describes someone who is very attractive or 'hot'. This is the complete opposite of the literal meaning of smelling like cheese.
- In Spanish, the verb oler can be used to describe both the act of smelling something and the quality of smelling like something, but it can also mean 'to stink' if used without a specific scent. Saying esto huele often implies that something smells bad.
- The word queso is a linguistic relative of the English word 'casein', the protein found in milk.
Examples in context
- ¡Qué asco, hueles a queso!Gross, you smell like cheese!
- ¿Por qué hueles a queso?Why do you smell like cheese?
- No te acerques, hueles a queso.Don't come close, you smell like cheese.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are joking around in the kitchen.
- JavierLucía, ¿qué te has puesto?Lucía, what did you put on?
- LucíaSolo mi perfume favorito, ¿por qué?Just my favorite perfume, why?
- JavierNo sé, pero hueles a queso.I don't know, but you smell like cheese.
- Lucía¡Qué pesado eres, Javier!You are so annoying, Javier!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
