giornata calda
In Italian, the phrase for 'hot day' is giornata calda.
giornata calda is used to describe a day characterized by high temperatures. If you want to express more intense sensations of heat, you can use the idiomatic expressions fa un caldo infernale (it's infernally hot) or fa un caldo da morire (it's scorching hot). To simply exclaim about the heat, you can say Che caldo! (What heat!).
Which one should you use?
There is a grammatical distinction between giornata calda and giorno caldo. While giorno caldo refers to a specific point in time or a calendar date, giornata calda refers to the duration and the experience of the day being hot.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is feminine, which is why the indefinite article una is used and the adjective ends in -a in una giornata calda. To express the plural, 'hot days', both the noun and the adjective change to the feminine plural to become giornate calde.
Did you know?
- The word giornata originally referred to the distance a person could travel on foot in a single day. It evolved from a measure of distance to a measure of time spent experiencing the day.
- While giornata calda is standard, Italians often use the phrase afa to describe a hot day that is also humid. This word specifically describes that oppressive, breathless feeling of heat that 'caldo' does not fully capture.
- The noun giornata actually shares a common ancestor with the English word 'journey'.
Examples in context
- È una giornata calda.It's a hot day.This sentence uses giornata calda to state that it is a hot day.Tatoeba #4086390 by Guybrush88, translation #3737105 by CK
- Sarà una giornata calda.It's going to be a hot day.This sentence uses giornata calda to indicate a prediction that it will be a hot day.Tatoeba #9967007 by Guybrush88, translation #8855825 by sundown
- Che giornata calda che è!What a hot day it is!This sentence uses giornata calda as an exclamation about a hot day.Tatoeba #1747248 by Guybrush88, translation #36080 by Zifre
- Oggi è una giornata calda.Today is a hot day.
- Dopo una giornata torrida, finalmente si avvicina la sera.After a scorching hot day, evening is finally approaching.
- Che temperature! Queste giornate afose non finiscono mai!What temperatures! These sweltering hot days never end!
- Oggi è una giornata calda, meglio restare all'ombra.Today is a hot day, better to stay in the shade.
- Mi servirebbe un gelato per rinfrescarmi in questa giornata afosa!I could use an ice cream to cool down on this sweltering hot day!
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina and Francesco are walking in the city.
- MartinaChe giornata calda, Francesco!What a hot day, Francesco!
- FrancescoSì, faremmo meglio a cercare l'ombra.Yes, we would be better off looking for shade.
- MartinaHai ragione, non sopporto questa giornata calda.You're right, I can't stand this hot day.
- FrancescoAndiamo a prendere un gelato allora.Let's go get an ice cream then.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries giornata, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
