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fume and Spanish fumar
In English
fume
smoke or toxic gas / to be very angry
In Spanish
fumar
consumir tabaco
Spanish "fumar" means: to smoke
Why they get mixed up Spanish "fumar" is to smoke tobacco. English "fume(s)" are the toxic smoke or vapors something gives off when burned. As a verb, "to fume" also means to be very angry. To smoke tobacco in English is "smoke."
If you want to say...
- fumegases o humo
- smokefumar
- to fumeechar humo de rabia
Examples
The exhaust fumes are toxic.
Los gases del escape son tóxicos.
He was fuming with anger.
Echaba humo del enojo.
Factory fumes filled the air.
Los gases de la fábrica llenaron el aire.
He fumed silently after the meeting.
Hirvió de rabia en silencio después de la reunión.
Common mistakes in Spanish
Incorrect: Estaba tan enojado que fumaba.
Correct: Estaba tan enojado que echaba humo.
Fumar means to smoke a cigarette. To fume in anger, use echar humo or hervir de rabia.
Incorrect: Los fumes de la fábrica dañan el aire.
Correct: Los gases de la fábrica dañan el aire.
Use gases or humos for fumes.
Phrases you will hear
- exhaust fumesgases de escape
- toxic fumesgases tóxicos
- paint fumesvapores de pintura
- fume with angerhervir de rabia
- to smokefumar
- a fume hooduna campana de extracción
In a conversation
- A:
The factory fumes filled the air.
Los gases de la fábrica llenaron el aire.
- B:
That's dangerous.
Eso es peligroso.
- A:
He was fuming when he saw it.
Echaba humo cuando lo vio.
- B:
Anyone would. Don't smoke here either.
Cualquiera. Y tampoco fumes aquí.
Test yourself
"Toxic fumes" are...
To remember it
Fume/fumes = toxic smoke or gas. Smoking a cigarette (Spanish "fumar") = smoke.
Frequently asked questions
What does Spanish "fumar" mean?
Spanish "fumar" means "to smoke". It looks like the English "fume", which is exactly why it gets confused, but "fume" means "smoke or toxic gas / to be very angry".
Does English "fume" mean the same as Spanish "fumar"?
Spanish "fumar" is to smoke tobacco. English "fume(s)" are the toxic smoke or vapors something gives off when burned. As a verb, "to fume" also means to be very angry. To smoke tobacco in English is "smoke."