enfriarse
/enfɾjaɾse/from spelling rules
To cool down (temperature) in Spanish is enfriarse.
Use this verb when describing a subject that is undergoing a decrease in temperature. While it describes a physical change in temperature, note that it is distinct from the informal English slang 'to chill out,' which in Spanish would be expressed as Relájate.
Meaning: to become cooler (temperature) (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The verb is composed of enfriar (to cool) and the reflexive pronoun se (itself/himself/herself/itself), indicating that the subject undergoes the cooling process.
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between the reflexive enfriarse and the non-reflexive enfriar. Use enfriar when you are cooling something else, such as enfriar la sopa (to cool the soup). Use the reflexive enfriarse when the subject itself is becoming cool, such as la sopa se enfría (the soup cools down).
How does it change in a sentence?
In the third-person singular present indicative, the form is se enfría (it cools down). In the third-person singular preterite (past tense), the form is se enfrió (it cooled down).
How do you pronounce it?
/enfɾjaɾse/
Did you know?
- While enfriarse refers to temperature, Spanish speakers use enfriarse to describe a romantic relationship that has lost its passion or is fading.
- Spanish has a specific word enfriamiento for the process of cooling, but when talking about the 'cool down' period after exercise, speakers usually use estiramientos (stretching).
- In a social or argumentative context, enfriar los ánimos means to calm people down or de-escalate a tense situation.
Examples in context
- La cerveza se enfría rápido en la nevera.The beer cools down quickly in the fridge.
- El metal necesita enfriarse antes de tocarlo.The metal needs to cool down before touching it.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are waiting for a cake to be ready.
- DanielEl pastel ya está fuera del horno.The cake is already out of the oven.
- ElenaTiene que enfriarse antes de poner el glaseado.It has to cool down before putting on the frosting.
- Daniel¿Cuánto tiempo tardará en enfriarse?How long will it take to cool down?
- ElenaCreo que unos veinte minutos, Daniel.I think about twenty minutes, Daniel.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry enfriarse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
