Desayunar?

[AlwaysLost]

When I type "When is breakfast" into Google Translate I get "Cuando es el desayuno". Why does this translate this way and not desayunar(infinitive)? I have not specified it is for me, though that is the meaning.

In English you would say "Is the food done yet" to make a slight leaning toward "Is the food that is being prepared for everyone done yet"...... It's not saying it is your food "Is my food done yet" because that would be rude.....

Am I right in thinking that Google Translate is wrong and it should be "Cuando es el desayunar"?

Any help?

[Rusty]

Breakfast is a noun. The translation you received is correct (providing proper punctuation was returned).
The infinitive in Spanish is equivalent to the English gerund. Both are nouns.
The English equivalent to '(el) desayunar' is 'eating breakfast' or 'having breakfast' or 'breakfasting'. Why would you want to say "When is eating breakfast?" Stick to using just the noun - 'el desayuno'. That means "When is breakfast?"

I don't follow your logic in the slide from 'the food done' to 'my food done'. It's a totally different question. But, in Spanish, using 'la comida' or 'mi comida' could be interchangeable when context allows. If the person preparing the food is preparing it for one person, both 'la comida' and 'mi comida' could be used in the question. When the food is being prepared for more than one person, 'la comida' is the obvious first choice, but you could still use 'mi comida'.

[aleCcowaN]

That's completely right.

In practical terms, we don't say it that way in Spanish

When is breakfast? = ¿A qué hora se desayuna? / ¿A qué hora desayunamos? / ¿Cuál es el horario para el desayuno? (formal, when you're asking for the schedule)

¿Cuándo es el desayuno? or ¿Cuándo vamos a desayunar? are a little rough, as it usually implies it's coming later than usual. If you want to make it a clear complain, make it "y el desayuno ¿para cuándo?" said with the voice of an angry customer (and you may get your breakfast, but not on the table, in front of you)

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@AlwaysLost: Your confusion is understandable because "desayuno" can mean both "I have breakfast" and "the breakfast". Yet, in context the meaning is always clear:

- Mi desayuno es a las ocho.
My breakfast is at eight.
- Siempre desayuno a las ocho.
I always have breakfast at eight.


- Comí pan con mantequilla en el desayuno.
I ate bread with butter at breakfast.
- Desayuné pan con mantequilla.
I had bread with butter for breakfast.


Although many words can be confusing because they look the same, the dictionary is your friend. Find a good Spanish-English dictionary and check each word and its meanings so you can have a better idea of what each word mean, its nature and how to use it.