superficie caliente
/supeɾfiθje kaljente/from spelling rules
The English phrase "hot surface" is translated into Spanish as superficie caliente.
Superficie caliente is a straightforward and universal way to describe an area or object that is at a high temperature and may cause a burn if touched.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of superficie (surface) and caliente (hot).
Which one should you use?
While superficie caliente is the standard term, you may encounter superficie candente in more formal or poetic contexts or superficie ardiendo when the phrase implies an intense or burning heat.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural "hot surfaces", both the noun and the adjective must take a plural ending, resulting in superficies calientes.
Did you know?
- The adjective caliente changes its meaning entirely if you use it to describe a person rather than an object. While una superficie caliente is a hot surface, calling a person caliente often implies they are feeling sexual arousal.
- In Spanish, the word caliente is used for surfaces, but when describing the weather or a room, speakers use the verb hace calor instead of the adjective.
- The word caliente is a participle of the Latin verb caleō, which means 'to be warm', the same root that gives English the word 'calorie'.
Examples in context
- Tenga cuidado, esa superficie está calienteBe careful, that surface is hot
- Por favor, evite tocar la superficie candentePlease, avoid touching the hot surface
- No se acerque a la superficie ardiendoDon't approach the burning hot surface
- No te acerques, la superficie está al rojo vivoDon't get closer, the surface is red-hot
- ¡Cuidado! La superficie está caliente.Watch out! The surface is hot.
- La superficie caliente puede causar una quemadura.The hot surface can cause a burn.
- No toques la superficie caliente de la estufa.Do not touch the hot surface of the stove.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are in the kitchen cooking together.
- SofíaMateo, ten cuidado con la superficie caliente.Mateo, be careful with the hot surface.
- MateoGracias, Sofía. ¿Dónde está la olla?Thanks, Sofía. Where is the pot?
- SofíaEstá justo ahí, pero quema mucho.It is right there, but it is very hot.
- MateoUsaré los guantes para moverla.I will use the oven mitts to move it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caliente, superficie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
