calor afuera
/kaloɾ afweɾa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "hot outside" is translated into Spanish as calor afuera.
This phrase is used to describe the weather when the temperature is high outdoors. If you want to express that it is muggy or sweltering, you can use the phrase Está haciendo bochorno. To describe weather that is specifically scorching, you can use the word abrasador.
What does it mean word for word?
The word calor literally means "heat" rather than "hot".
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that it is hot outside, Spanish uses the verb hacer (to make/do) instead of ser or estar. In natural conversation, the word afuera is often omitted if the context of being outdoors is already understood, leaving you with just hace calor.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaloɾ afweɾa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying está caliente afuera to describe the weather. While English speakers often make this mistake, caliente usually refers to objects or people being physically hot to the touch.
Did you know?
- Using the word caliente to describe the weather can accidentally imply that a person is sexually aroused.
- The word afuera is related to the English word 'forum', as both evolved from terms referring to an 'outdoor place'.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, you do not say 'it is hot' to describe your own feeling, but rather tengo calor, meaning 'I have heat'.
Examples in context
- No me gusta cocinar cuando hace calor afuera.I don't like to cook when it's hot outside.This sentence shows how to use calor afuera when talking about cooking.Tatoeba #2112110 by marcelostockle, translation #22030 by CK
- Hace tanto calor afuera que podrías freír un huevo.It's so hot outside, you could fry an egg.This sentence uses calor afuera to create an exaggeration about the heat.Tatoeba #2154728 by marcelostockle, translation #460189 by jeanne
- ¿Hace calor afuera?Is it hot outside?This sentence uses calor afuera to ask a question about the temperature outdoors.Tatoeba #4916098 by Balamax, translation #4916092 by Balamax
- Hace mucho calor afueraIt's very hot outside
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are standing near an open window.
- ElenaAlejandro, ¿hace mucho calor afuera?Alejandro, is it very hot outside?
- AlejandroSí, hace bastante calor afuera hoy.Yes, it is quite hot outside today.
- ElenaEntonces, mejor cerramos la ventana.Then, we should better close the window.
- AlejandroTienes razón, Elena.You are right, Elena.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries afuera, calor, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
