caliente como el fuego
/kaljente komo el fweɡo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "hot like fire" is translated into Spanish as caliente como el fuego.
This phrase is used to describe something that has an extremely high temperature.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of caliente (hot), como (like/as) and el fuego (the fire).
Which one should you use?
While caliente como el fuego is a descriptive phrase, the adjective Ardiente can also be used to mean "burning" or "fiery."
Did you know?
- To describe a person who is physically hot due to the weather, Spanish speakers often use tener calor (to have heat) instead of the adjective caliente. Using caliente in this context can lead to significant misunderstandings.
- The English word 'focus' and the Spanish word fuego both descend from the Latin 'focus', which originally meant the center of the home where the fire burned.
- The word caliente shares its root with the English word 'calorie', which comes from the Latin calere meaning 'to be warm'.
Examples in context
- Ese plato está caliente como el fuego.That dish is hot like fire.
- La arena del desierto está caliente como el fuego.The desert sand is hot like fire.
- Esa piedra está caliente como el fuego, ten cuidado.That stone is hot like fire, be careful.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are in the kitchen during lunch.
- ElenaNo toques la olla, está caliente como el fuego.Do not touch the pot, it is hot like fire.
- JavierGracias por avisarme, Elena.Thanks for letting me know, Elena.
- ElenaEs mejor esperar a que se enfríe un poco.It is better to wait for it to cool down a bit.
- JavierTienes razón, Javier esperará.You are right, Javier will wait.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caliente, como, el, fuego, CC BY-SA 4.0.
