Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| caliente | /kaˈljente/ |
| calientísimo | /kaljentisimo/ (from spelling rules) |
caliente is used to describe something that has a high temperature.
Which one should you use?
caliente is the standard form for describing high temperature, whereas calientísimo is the absolute superlative used to express that something is extremely hot.
How does it change in a sentence?
caliente must agree in number with the noun it modifies. For example, it becomes calientes when describing plural nouns. The form calientísimo is used to express that something is very hot.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaˈljente/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use estar caliente to say that you feel hot. Instead, use the phrase tener calor to describe a person's sensation of being hot.
When do people say it?
When describing people's attractiveness, Spanish speakers use different terms depending on the context. Guapo/a is a common way to say someone is good-looking, handsome or beautiful. In a colloquial sense, buenorro/a describes someone who is exceptionally attractive or 'hot'. In certain Latin American countries, the flirtatious or cheeky terms papacito or mamacita can be used to indicate someone is 'hot'. Additionally, while muñeca literally means 'doll', it can be used informally to describe a woman as 'hot'.
Did you know?
- While caliente describes the temperature of an object, using estar caliente to describe a person can imply they are sexually aroused rather than just feeling the heat.
- To describe a very spicy dish as 'hot', Spanish speakers use the word picante instead of caliente.
- The word caliente is a direct descendant of the Latin word calentem, which is the present participle of caleō, meaning 'to be warm'.
Examples in context
- Sé que está caliente.I know it's hot.This sentence confirms that something is hot using caliente.Tatoeba #2412470 by marcelostockle, translation #2376058 by CK
- No hay agua caliente.There is no hot water.This sentence shows how to describe hot water using caliente.Tatoeba #3682114 by Seael, translation #3256301 by CC
- El café está caliente.The coffee is hot.This sentence shows how to describe hot coffee using caliente.Tatoeba #9017922 by Shishir, translation #2977228 by CM
- Ella es una mujer muy atractivaShe is a very attractive woman
- ¡Mira a ese chico, está buenorro!Look at that guy, he's hot!
- Me parece una persona muy lindaI think he/she is a very attractive person
- ¡Hola, papacito!Hey, hot stuff!
- 176 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are having lunch together.
- MateoSofía, ¿está caliente la comida?Sofía, is the food hot?
- SofíaSí, Mateo, está muy caliente.Yes, Mateo, it is very hot.
- MateoPerfecto, gracias.Perfect, thanks.
- SofíaDe nada, disfruta tu almuerzo.You're welcome, enjoy your lunch.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hot” translations and entries caliente, 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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caliente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
