llamada en frío
/ʝamada en fɾio/from spelling rules
The English phrase "cold call" can be translated into Spanish as llamada en frío.
You can use the noun phrase llamada en frío to name the call itself, or use the verbal phrase hacer una llamada en frío to describe the action of performing one.
Meaning: sales call (noun)
Which one should you use?
While llamada en frío is the direct noun for the concept, you can also use the verb phrase hacer una llamada en frío to express the specific action of making a call. For a more professional or industry-specific way to describe the practice of cold calling, use realizar llamadas de prospección, which translates to "to make prospecting calls".
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the action of performing a cold call, use the verb hacer (to make/do) with the noun phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʝamada en fɾio/
Did you know?
- Unlike English, where 'cold calling' is a distinct industry term, the Spanish llamada en frío is a relatively recent calque from English.
- The Spanish word frío shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'fridge'. Both words trace back to the same Proto-Indo-European root describing coldness.
- In Spanish, the word frío can describe not just temperature, but also a person's personality or a lack of emotional warmth in a conversation.
Examples in context
- Esta llamada en frío fue muy útil.This cold call was very useful.
- Tengo que preparar la llamada en frío.I have to prepare the cold call.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing their sales strategy in an office.
- ElenaMateo, ¿has hecho la llamada en frío hoy?Mateo, have you made the cold call today?
- MateoNo, Elena, prefiero enviar correos primero.No, Elena, I prefer to send emails first.
- ElenaPero una llamada en frío es más efectiva.But a cold call is more effective.
- MateoTienes razón, lo intentaré ahora mismo.You are right, I will try it right now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries en, frío, CC BY-SA 4.0.
