Hueles feo
informal
To tell someone they smell bad in Mexican Spanish, say Hueles feo or Hueles mal. Apestas is blunter and means "you reek".
Meaning: telling someone they smell bad (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| Hueles feo | informal |
| Hueles mal | neutral |
| Apestas | informal, blunt |
These are rude if said to a stranger, so they mostly appear between close friends or family, often as a joke after a workout.
Which one should you use?
Apestas has a second meaning. If you tell someone Apestas jugando, you mean they play terribly, not that they smell.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb oler changes its stem: huelo, hueles, huele. Add an adjective like feo or mal to say what the smell is like.
Did you know?
- In Mexican Spanish apestar is also used about unpleasant situations, as in Esto apesta, meaning "this is awful".
Examples in context
- Hueles feo, ve a bañarte.You stink, go take a shower.
- Apestas a cigarro.You reek of cigarettes.
- Hueles mal, ¿qué te pasó?You smell bad, what happened to you?
Example conversation
Brother Nacho comes home from soccer practice and his sister Fer teases him.
- FerNacho, apestas.Nacho, you stink.
- NachoEs que jugué dos horas.It is because I played two hours.
- FerHueles feo, ve a bañarte antes de cenar.You smell bad, go shower before dinner.
- NachoYa voy, ya voy.I am going, I am going.
