Spanish Phrase
Están haciendo un baby shower.
Meaning
It means ‘They are having a baby shower.’ The sentence uses the present progressive to describe an event that is currently being organized or taking place. The term ‘baby shower’ is borrowed directly from English and is widely understood in Spanish‑speaking countries.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to tell someone that a group of people is currently preparing or celebrating a baby shower for an expectant mother. It works in informal conversation, social media updates, or when describing a party in progress.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Estánhaciendounbabyshower.
Están (estar + gerund)
‘Están’ is the third‑person plural present of ‘estar’, used with a gerund to form the present progressive (they are …).
Haciendo (gerund of hacer)
‘Haciendo’ is the gerund of ‘hacer’, meaning ‘doing/making’. In progressive constructions it conveys an ongoing action.
Un (indefinite article)
‘Un’ is the masculine singular indefinite article, equivalent to ‘a’ or ‘an’ in English.
Baby shower (loanword)
‘Baby shower’ is an English loanword that has been adopted unchanged in many Spanish‑speaking contexts, especially in urban areas.
🗨In Conversation
¿Sabes qué están haciendo los vecinos?
Do you know what the neighbors are doing?
Están haciendo un baby shower para la futura mamá.
They're having a baby shower for the expectant mom.
✕Common Mistakes
Son haciendo un baby shower.
‘Ser’ is not used for progressive actions; you need ‘estar’ + gerund.
Están hacer un baby shower.
After ‘estar’ you must use the gerund, not the infinitive.
Están haciendo el baby shower.
Because ‘baby shower’ is treated as a masculine singular noun, the indefinite article ‘un’ is preferred; ‘el’ can sound overly specific or unnatural in this context.
↔Alternatives
Están organizando un baby shower.
They are organizing a baby shower.
Le están preparando una fiesta de bebé.
They are preparing a baby party for her.
Están celebrando un baby shower.
They are celebrating a baby shower.
Cultural Tip
The baby shower is a relatively recent cultural import from the United States, popular in many urban areas of Latin America. While the English term is commonly used, some families blend it with traditional customs such as blessing the baby, giving symbolic gifts, or incorporating regional foods. The phrase is informal; avoid it in very formal or professional contexts unless you know the audience is comfortable with the loanword.