frente frío
/ˌfɾente ˈfɾio/masculine
The English phrase "cold front" is translated into Spanish as frente frío.
The term refers to the leading edge of an advancing mass of cold air.
Meaning: leading edge of an advancing mass of cold air (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural "cold fronts", use frentes fríos. Both the noun and the adjective are pluralized.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌfɾente ˈfɾio/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word frente comes from the Latin frōns, which literally means the 'forehead' or 'brow'.
- Although it means 'cold front', a Spanish speaker is more likely to say viene el frío to tell someone a cold snap is arriving.
- While frío is the everyday word for 'cold', Spanish also uses the word frígido, which is a more formal borrowed doublet from the same Latin root.
Examples in context
- En España, mañana llegará un frente frío que hará descender las temperaturas.In Spain, a cold front will arrive tomorrow, causing a drop in temperatures.
- El frente frío traerá lluvias intensas.The cold front will bring heavy rains.
- El frente frío llegará esta noche.The cold front will arrive tonight.
- Se espera un frente frío muy fuerte.A very strong cold front is expected.
- El frente frío bajará la temperatura.The cold front will lower the temperature.
Example conversation
Javier and María are checking the weather forecast on a phone.
- Javier¿Viste el pronóstico para mañana?Did you see the forecast for tomorrow?
- MaríaSí, viene un frente frío.Yes, a cold front is coming.
- JavierEntonces debemos sacar las chaquetas.Then we must get the jackets out.
- MaríaTienes razón, Javier.You are right, Javier.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cold front” translations and entries frente frío, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries frente, frío, CC BY-SA 4.0.
