caliente
neutral
In Puerto Rico caliente describes hot food, drinks and objects, while Hace calor describes hot weather. A person who feels hot says Tengo calor.
Meaning: high temperature (adjective)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| caliente | neutral |
| Hace calor | weather |
| Tengo calor | person |
Use Está caliente for soup, coffee or a stove. For the weather say Hace calor or Qué calor hace, which Puerto Ricans say very often.
How does it change in a sentence?
Spanish uses tener (to have) for feeling hot or cold. So tengo calor is literally “I have heat”.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not say Estoy caliente to mean you feel hot. It has a sexual meaning. Say Tengo calor instead.
Did you know?
- Puerto Rico stays warm all year, so Qué calor is one of the most common small talk phrases on the island.
Examples in context
- El café está muy caliente.The coffee is very hot.
- Hoy hace mucho calor.It is very hot today.
- Tengo calor, prende el abanico.I am hot, turn on the fan.
Example conversation
Lucía and her brother Javier wait for a bus on a sunny afternoon in San Juan.
- LucíaAy, qué calor hace hoy.Wow, it is so hot today.
- JavierSí, tengo calor y sed.Yes, I am hot and thirsty.
- LucíaVamos a comprar agua fría.Let us buy cold water.
