está caliente
/esta kaljente/from spelling rules
In Spanish, está caliente is used to say "it's hot".
Use está caliente specifically to describe an object that has a high temperature.
Which one should you use?
Use está caliente to describe the temperature of an object, but do not use it to describe the weather. For weather, use hace calor.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, Hace mucho calor means "It's very hot" and Hace un calor sofocante means "It's blistering hot".
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using está caliente to say "it is hot" when referring to the weather or the ambient temperature, as this specifically refers to an object's heat.
Did you know?
- If you use está caliente to describe a person instead of an object, you might accidentally imply that the person is sexually aroused. To say a person feels hot due to temperature, you should use tiene calor.
- If you are eating a soup and say está caliente, you are discussing its temperature, but if you say está picante, you are actually saying it is 'spicy' or 'hot' in terms of chili peppers.
- The word caliente shares an ancestor with the English word 'caloric', which relates to the measurement of heat. Both words trace back to the Latin 'calere', meaning 'to be hot'.
Examples in context
- Sé que está caliente.I know it's hot.This sentence uses está caliente to express knowledge of an object's heat.Tatoeba #2412470 by marcelostockle, translation #2376058 by CK
- Está caliente, no frío.It's hot, not cold.This sentence uses está caliente to contrast a hot object with a cold one.Tatoeba #10051311 by manufrutos, translation #10050855 by ddnktr
- No me importa si está caliente.I don't mind if it's hot.This sentence uses está caliente to express indifference regarding an object's temperature.Tatoeba #1322445 by Shishir, translation #1076309 by CK
- ¡Hace mucho calor aquí!It's very hot here!
- ¡Qué calor hace hoy!What a hot day!
- Hace un calor infernal.It's infernally hot.
- El sol está abrasador hoy.The sun is scorching today.
- ¡Hace calor a morir!It's unbearably hot!
- Hoy hace calor en toda la ciudad.It's hot all over the city today.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo is trying to drink a bowl of soup that Lucía just served.
- LucíaTen cuidado, la sopa está caliente.Be careful, the soup is hot.
- MateoGracias, Lucía, parece que sí.Thanks, Lucía, it certainly looks like it.
- Lucía¿Está muy caliente todavía?Is it still very hot?
- MateoSí, está caliente, esperaré un poco.Yes, it is hot, I will wait a bit.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caliente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
