When talking about the weather, it’s essential to know how to express that it is cold outside. In Spanish, there are various phrases and expressions you can use to convey this idea. This guide will provide you with formal and informal ways to express “it is cold outside” in Spanish, along with useful tips, examples, and regional variations.
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Say “It is Cold Outside” in Spanish
Hace frío fuera.
This phrase is the most common and formal way to say “it is cold outside” in Spanish. The verb “hacer” means “to make,” and “frío” translates to “cold.” The word “fuera” means “outside.” This expression is widely used in all Spanish-speaking countries.
La temperatura está baja.
If you want to be more precise about the temperature, you can use this formal expression that translates to “the temperature is low.” It is commonly used in more formal contexts or for reporting weather conditions on news broadcasts.
Informal Ways to Say “It is Cold Outside” in Spanish
Hace un frío que pela.
This informal expression is a colorful way to describe extremely cold weather. The phrase “hace un frío que pela” translates to “it is a cold that peels.” It is a colloquial phrase used in many Spanish-speaking countries.
Hace un frio de perros.
This informal expression, quite similar to the previous one, means “it is a dog’s cold.” It is an idiomatic phrase commonly used in Spain and some countries in Latin America to describe very cold weather.
Tips and Examples for Talking about Cold Weather
To provide you with more context and enhance your understanding of how to talk about cold weather in Spanish, we’ve prepared some tips and examples:
1. Use the verb “hacer” to indicate weather conditions
In Spanish, we generally use the verb “hacer” to express weather conditions, including cold. Here are a few examples:
- Hace mucho frío hoy. (It is very cold today.)
- ¿Hace frío en tu ciudad? (Is it cold in your city?)
- Hace un frío insoportable afuera. (It is unbearably cold outside.)
2. Pay attention to gender and number agreement
In Spanish, adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in terms of gender and number. For example, if you’re referring to a cold day (día frío), you need to match the gender and number of your adjective, like “Hoy es un día frío” (Today is a cold day) or “Hoy son unos días fríos” (Today is some cold days).
3. Consider regional variations
Spanish is spoken in various countries, each with its own regional variations and idiomatic expressions. Here are a couple of examples:
- In Argentina, they might say “Hace un frío de locos” (It is crazy cold) or “Hace un frío polar” (It is polar cold) to describe extremely cold weather.
- In Mexico, you may hear “Hace un frío que pela” or “Hace un frío bien cabrón” (It is a very difficult cold) to describe intense cold.
4. Combine expressions to provide more details
You can enhance your descriptions of cold weather by combining different expressions. For example:
- ¡Qué frío tan intenso hace afuera! (It is so intensely cold outside!)
- Está haciendo mucho frío, deberías abrigarte más. (It is very cold, you should dress warmer.)
- Hace un frío glacial en esta área. (There is a glacial cold in this area.)
Conclusion
Learning how to express “it is cold outside” in Spanish is a useful skill that will help you in various situations. The phrases and expressions provided in this guide will allow you to confidently talk about cold weather in both formal and informal contexts. Remember to pay attention to gender and number agreement, and feel free to adapt your language based on regional variations. Stay warm and keep practicing your Spanish!
