For a quick answer to the question “How do you say cigarette in spanish?” the most common word understood in Spanish is cigarrillo. (Even if it’s not the word used in a specific country, everyone should understand you.)
However, as you’ll see below there are different answers to the question “What is cigarette in Spanish slang?” varying from one country to the next – not to mention vaping and pot.
How to say cigarette in Puerto Rican Spanish
The other day, I heard a Puerto Rican friend ask another friend for “un garet,” pronounced without the T, as gare (gar-eh).
Garet? Huh? What?
Apparently, garet means “cigarette”. They explained it was an abbreviation. This confused me, as you normally say cigarette in Spanish with the word “cigarillo.” They explained that it was actually short for the English word, cigarette.
Taking an English word, pronouncing it with a Spanish accent and shortening it is typical in Puerto Rico.
However, it got me thinking and I realized I knew a few other Spanish slang words for cigarette, varying by country:
How to say cigarette in Spanish Slang? Here are 8 ways:
1. Cigarrillo – generic term in some countries instead of cigarro
2. Pucho – Argentina, Perú, Chile, Colombia
3. Garro – Colombia
4. Tabiro – México
5. Fallo – Perú
6. Bacha, bachita – México (Mexico has a total ban on smoking in public places, which includes vaping. It is illegal to bring disposable vapes into Mexico, either in your luggage or on you.)
7. Puro – cigar, I know, not really a cigarette, but close!
8. Garet – pronounced gare in Puerto Rico (FYI – Smoking and e-cigarettes are not allowed in public places.)
9. Cigarro – be careful with this one since it can mean cigarette in some countries and cigar in others.
10. Vapear – to vape. Let’s say you’re in Latin America and you didn’t bring your vape pen like a good traveler but now you’ve landed. You may need to go shopping. The liquid used in e-cigarettes is called e-liquid, e-juice, or vape juice which has come confusing Spanish translations. To make everything easier you may need to look for a vape shop. In Spanish you’d say, tienda de vapeo.
Useful cigarette related words in Spanish
1. Lighter – encendedor, slang terms are fuego (most countries) and mechero (Spain)
2. Smoke break – pausa para fumar (many countries), salir a fumar un pucho (Argentina), salir a echar un tabaco (Mexico)
3. Cigarette butt – colilla
4. A drag, puff – pitaso (Colombia), pitada (Argentina)
5. Ash tray – cenicero
Questions related to smoking for you to ask your friends in Spanish
How to say a smoke in Spanish slang.
You can just use whatever local term for cigarette that’s appropriate. For instance, to bum a smoke you can say “¿Me regalas un pucho?” or “¿Me prestas un garet?”
Do you want to smoke in Spanish?
You can simply say “¿Quieres fumar?” or “¿Quieres fumar conmigo?” meaning “Do you want to smoke with me?”
Do you smoke in Spanish?
One word here is all you need…”¿Fumas?” Pay attention here because this could be asking if you smoke weed instead of cigarettes. Just pay attention to the person’s gestures. Do they wink? Use their hand to toke a joint? Usually if the question is about marijuana then they will make sure you understand it’s not smoking a cigarillo.
How to ask for a pack of cigarettes in Spanish.
The most common and easiest way is to say “¿Me puedes dar un paquete de cigarillos?” That will be understood throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
And if you’d like a carton of cigarettes, you can say “¿Me puedes dar un cartón de cigarillos?”
How do you say cigarette butt in Spanish?
The universally recognized word is colilla.
Check out these other Spanish Slang Word articles.
Featured photo credit: Aquela by Nathália Carvalho via flickr
