hueles

/OO-eh-less/

you smell

A cartoonish child leans down, closing their eyes, and intensely sniffs a large, vibrant red rose held in their hands.

Hueles (you smell) means you are perceiving a scent.

hueles(Verb (Conjugated Form))

A1irregular (stem-changing) er

you smell

you perceive a scent (informal, singular)

Also:

you sniff

you use your nose (informal, singular)

📝 In Action

¿Hueles a quemado? Creo que algo se está cocinando de más.

Do you smell something burning? I think something is overcooking.

Si hueles algo raro, dímelo de inmediato.

If you smell anything strange, tell me immediately.

Word Connections

Synonyms

percibir (to perceive)
olfatear (to sniff)

Common Collocations

oler el peligro – to smell danger
oler a gas – to smell of gas

💡 Grammar Points

Tú Form Recognition

'Hueles' is the form you use when talking directly to one friend or family member (the 'tú' form) in the present tense.

The Irregular 'Oler'

The base verb 'oler' is irregular. When you conjugate it in the present tense (except for 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'), the 'o' changes to 'ue'. This is why you see 'huelo' and 'hueles'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the 'H'

Mistake: "Using 'ueles' instead of 'hueles'."

Correction: The verb 'oler' and all its present tense forms (huelo, hueles, huele, huelen) always start with a silent 'h' in Spanish.

⭐ Usage Tips

Action vs. Quality

When 'hueles' is followed by 'a' (like 'hueles a flores'), it means 'you have the scent of flowers'. When it's followed by a direct object (like 'hueles el perfume'), it means 'you perceive the perfume'.

A cheerful storybook illustration of a young child completely covered in mud, standing next to a garden patch, clearly indicating they smell of dirt.

Hueles (you smell of) means you emit a scent. This child hueles a tierra (smells of dirt)!

hueles(Verb (Conjugated Form))

A2irregular (stem-changing) er

you smell of

you emit the scent of (informal, singular)

Also:

you reek of

informal, negative connotation

📝 In Action

¡Qué bien hueles! ¿Es un perfume nuevo?

You smell so good! Is that a new perfume?

Hueles a cloro, ¿estuviste limpiando la piscina?

You smell of chlorine, were you cleaning the pool?

Word Connections

Synonyms

despedir olor (to give off an odor)
apestar (to stink (informal))

Idioms & Expressions

Hueles a dinero. – You look rich / You have money.

💡 Grammar Points

Use of 'A'

When 'hueles' describes the quality of the scent, it is almost always followed by the preposition 'a' (meaning 'of' or 'like'). Example: 'Hueles a rosas'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'Oler' and 'Aromar'

Mistake: "Using 'aromas a café' instead of 'hueles a café'."

Correction: The verb 'aromar' means 'to perfume' or 'to add scent to something'. Use 'oler' to describe the natural scent something gives off.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: hueles

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'hueles' to describe the quality or type of scent being emitted?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

oler(to smell (infinitive)) - verb

el olor(the smell/odor) - noun

la olfacción(the sense of smell) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'oler' start with an 'h' in some conjugations but not others?

The verb 'oler' is stem-changing, meaning the vowel 'o' changes to 'ue' in most present tense forms (hUelo, hUeles). Historically, the sound represented by 'ue' sometimes attracted a silent 'h' in Spanish, but only where the stem change occurs. In 'nosotros' (olemos) and 'vosotros' (oléis), the stem doesn't change, so the 'h' is dropped.

How do I say 'You smell good' vs. 'You smell bad'?

You can say 'Hueles bien' (You smell good) or 'Hueles mal' (You smell bad). If you want to specify the scent, you use 'a': 'Hueles a rosas' (You smell like roses).