It smells like onion you say huele a or como

Question

When saying it smells like onion do you say huele a cebolla or como?

Answer 1

Oler a + [typical smell associated with a thing or an animal]

This expression is used to describe the sound that it is being perceived by capturing the essence of something (or someone), even if we can't pinpoint the source of the smell: "Huele a rosas" (It smells like roses), "Huele a azufre", "Huele a vinagre".... You can also use it to describe the sound of an object (or animal): "La carne huele a podrido" (lit. "The meat smells to rotten").

Oler como + ...

This one achieves a similar affect by comparing one smell with something more specific side by side, e.g. Your sauce smells like the one I made yesterday. "El cuarto huele como [huele] si hubiera un muerto debajo de la cama." Notice that this comparison can implicitly include "oler a + [thing]": "Huele como [si oliera] a quemado.. This comparison is not as common as the simpler "oler a + [thing]", so the last example is normally expressed as "Huele a quemado".

Answer 2

oler

To describe what something smells like, you can use oler a:

• El coche olía a gasolina. The car smelled of gasoline.
• Desde que comencé a amamantar a mi bebé siento que huelo a vaca. Since I started to nurse my baby I have felt that I smell like a cow.
• Tu casa huele a tabaco. Your house smells of tobacco.
• No huele a los baratos perfumes. It doesn't smell like the cheap perfumes.

Answer 3

Sin "a", tu casa (o todo lo que) necesitaría una nariz.

lol I know this isn't a serious answer but you got my vote - Austin67427, Aug 26, 2011