Portuguese Phrase
Quem está cuidando do buffet?
Meaning
The sentence asks for the identity of the person who is currently looking after the buffet. It uses the present progressive to stress that the task is happening right now.
When to use
Use this question at parties, weddings, corporate events, or any situation where food is served buffet‑style and you need to know who is in charge of the food stations.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quemestácuidandodobuffet?
Quem (interrogative pronoun)
Used to ask about a person; it does not change with gender or number.
está (present progressive auxiliary)
Third‑person singular of the verb estar, combined with a gerund to form the present continuous.
cuidando (gerund of cuidar)
The gerund expresses an ongoing action, equivalent to English ‘‑ing’.
do (de + o)
Contraction of the preposition de + the masculine singular article o; means ‘of the’.
buffet (borrowed noun)
A loanword from French/English, pronounced bu‑fé‑ti in Brazilian Portuguese, meaning a self‑service meal or catering service.
🗨In Conversation
Quem está cuidando do buffet?
Who is taking care of the buffet?
O João está cuidando do buffet.
João is taking care of the buffet.
✕Common Mistakes
Quem é cuidando do buffet?
‘É’ is the verb ser and cannot be used to form the progressive; use ‘está’ with a gerund.
Quem está cuidar do buffet?
After ‘está’ you need the gerund form ‘cuidando’, not the infinitive.
Quem está cuidando do buffete?
The correct spelling is ‘buffet’; the extra ‘e’ is a common misspelling.
↔Alternatives
Quem cuida do buffet?
Who looks after the buffet?
Quem está responsável pelo buffet?
Who is responsible for the buffet?
Quem vai organizar o buffet?
Who will organize the buffet?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, ‘buffet’ can refer both to a self‑service table and to a catering company that provides food for events. When you ask who is ‘cuidando do buffet’, you’re usually checking on the person handling the food stations during a party or wedding. The tone is informal; in a very formal setting you might say ‘Quem está responsável pelo serviço de buffet?’.