A simple colorful illustration showing a person exhaling a puff of smoke from a cigarette.

fumando

foo-MAHN-doh

GerundA1

smoking?as in 'currently smoking'

Also:while smoking?describing how an action is performed

Quick Reference

gerundfumando

infinitivefumar

past Participlefumado

📝 In Action

Ella está fumando un cigarrillo en la terraza.

She is smoking a cigarette on the terrace.

Lo vi entrar a la oficina fumando un puro grande.

I saw him enter the office smoking a large cigar.

¿Están fumando aquí? Hay mucho humo.

Are you guys smoking here? There's a lot of smoke.

Word Connections

Synonyms

pitando (puffing (colloquial in some regions))

Common Collocations

seguir fumando – to keep smoking
estar fumando – to be smoking (right now)

💡 Grammar Points

Forming the Continuous Action

You use 'fumando' with a form of the verb 'estar' (to be) to show that the action is happening right now: 'Estoy fumando' (I am smoking).

Using it as an Adverb

The '-ando' form can describe how someone does something, often replacing a phrase like 'while doing X': 'Caminó fumando' (He walked while smoking).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing up the English and Spanish Continuous forms

Mistake: "Using 'ser' instead of 'estar' for the continuous action (e.g., 'Soy fumando')."

Correction: Always use 'estar' when talking about an action that is currently in progress: 'Estoy fumando'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Focus on the Present

'Fumando' is often used to emphasize that the action is happening at the very moment of speaking, or continuously over a short period.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: fumando

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'fumando' to describe an ongoing action?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

fumar(to smoke (infinitive)) - verb

fumador(smoker (male noun)) - noun

humo(smoke) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'fumando' be used as an adjective?

No, 'fumando' is a verbal form that acts either as part of a continuous verb tense (like 'is smoking') or as an adverb, describing how an action is done. It cannot be used directly to describe a noun like a regular adjective.

What is the difference between 'fumo' and 'estoy fumando'?

'Fumo' (I smoke) is the simple present, used for habits or general truths ('Fumo todos los días'). 'Estoy fumando' (I am smoking) is the progressive form, used to emphasize that the action is happening at this very moment.