Inklingo

How to Say "cigarette" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cigarrillo

/see-gah-REE-yoh//siɣaˈriʎo/

NounA1General
Use 'cigarrillo' for a standard, small, commercially produced cigarette rolled in paper.
A high quality illustration of a single, unlit cigarette, clearly showing the white paper wrapper and the brown tobacco packed inside.

Examples

Necesito salir a fumar un cigarrillo.

I need to go out and smoke a cigarette.

El paquete de cigarrillos cuesta diez euros.

The pack of cigarettes costs ten euros.

Por favor, ¿me das fuego para encender mi cigarrillo?

Please, can you give me a light for my cigarette?

Masculine Noun

Even though it ends in '-o', this word is masculine, so you use 'el' or 'un' before it (e.g., 'un cigarrillo').

Confusing Gender

Mistake: “La cigarrillo.”

Correction: El cigarrillo. Remember, most nouns ending in '-o' are masculine.

cigarro

/see-GAH-rroh//siˈɣa.ro/

nounA1General/Informal
While 'cigarro' can refer to a cigarette, it more commonly refers to a cigar (tobacco rolled in a leaf). Use it for a cigarette only if the context clearly indicates a cigarette and not a cigar, or if it's a regional colloquialism.
A simple illustration of a single, unlit white cigarette with a brown filter tip, set against a plain background.

Examples

¿Me das un cigarro, por favor? Se me acabó el mío.

Can you give me a cigarette, please? I ran out of mine.

Ella fue afuera a fumar un cigarro durante el descanso.

She went outside to smoke a cigarette during the break.

Masculine Noun

Remember that 'cigarro' is always a masculine word, so you must use 'el' (the) or 'un' (a) before it.

Confusing Regional Use

Mistake: “Using 'cigarro' to mean 'cigar' in Spain.”

Correction: In Spain, it means 'cigarette.' For the larger tobacco product, use 'puro' or 'cigarro puro'.

tabaco

/tah-BAH-koh//taˈβa.ko/

nounB1Informal
Use 'tabaco' informally to refer to 'a smoke' or a cigarette, similar to how English speakers might say 'I'm going for a smoke.'
A single, lit white cigarette resting horizontally on a flat surface, emitting a thin wisp of smoke.

Examples

¿Me regalas un tabaco? Olvidé los míos en casa.

Can you give me a cigarette? I forgot mine at home.

El señor estaba fumando un tabaco enorme en el balcón.

The gentleman was smoking a huge cigar on the balcony.

Cigarrillo vs. Cigarro

The most common mistake is using 'cigarro' when you mean a standard paper cigarette. While sometimes used, 'cigarro' primarily means a cigar. Stick to 'cigarrillo' for clarity when referring to the common paper-rolled cigarette.

Related Translations

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