caja fría
/kaxa fɾia/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "cold box" is caja fría.
The phrase caja fría refers to an insulated container used to keep food and drinks cold.
What does it mean word for word?
This is a literal translation consisting of caja (box) and fría (cold).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, the term nevera is widely used to refer to a refrigerator. In many parts of Latin America, particularly Mexico, the word hielera is the standard term for a cooler. Additionally, nevera portátil is a more common way to refer to a portable insulated container in many Spanish-speaking regions.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because caja is a feminine noun, the adjective fría must also be in the feminine form. To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must take the plural ending: cajas frías.
Did you know?
- The Spanish word for 'jaw', quijada, is a distant linguistic relative of caja. Both words evolved from the same root referring to a box-like or enclosed structure.
- In some Caribbean regions, calling a cooler a nevera is so common that a person might say they are 'opening the fridge' while standing on a beach.
- While caja fría is a literal translation, using the word hielera in Mexico explicitly links the container to hielo, meaning 'ice'.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are preparing for a picnic.
- SofíaMateo, ¿tienes la caja fría?Mateo, do you have the cold box?
- MateoSí, está en el coche.Yes, it is in the car.
- SofíaTrae la caja fría, por favor.Bring the cold box, please.
- MateoEstá bien, voy por ella.All right, I'll go get it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caja, CC BY-SA 4.0.
