hoy hace calor
/oi aθe kaloɾ/from spelling rules
To say "it is hot today" in Spanish, use hoy hace calor.
This phrase is used to describe the high temperature of the weather on the current day.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "today makes heat" because Spanish uses the verb hacer (to make/do) to describe weather conditions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, people may use the phrase Hoy está haciendo un calor agobiante to emphasize oppressive heat. In Spain, people might use Hoy hace un calor insoportable to describe unbearable heat.
How does it change in a sentence?
When describing weather, Spanish uses the third-person singular form of hacer rather than the verb ser or estar.
How do you pronounce it?
/oi aθe kaloɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say es caliente to describe the weather, but caliente refers to objects that are hot to the touch, whereas hace calor is used for ambient temperature.
Did you know?
- If you describe a person as caliente instead of using the phrase tiene calor, you might accidentally imply they are sexually aroused.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, responding to hace calor with qué calor serves more as a ritualized social complaint than a literal observation.
- The Spanish word calor is a close relative of the English word 'calorie'. Both derive from the Latin calor, meaning 'heat'.
Examples in context
- ¿Podría abrir la ventana, por favor? Hace mucho calor hoy.Could you please open the window? It is very hot today.
- Hace mucho calor hoy, es insoportableIt is very hot today, it's unbearable.
- Hoy el sol está quemando, ¡hace mucho calor!Today the sun is scorching, it is very hot!
- ¡Qué calor tan sofocante hace hoy! No puedo ni respirar.What sweltering heat today! I can't even breathe.
- Hoy hace calor en la ciudad.It is hot today in the city.
- No puedo salir porque hoy hace calor.I cannot go out because it is hot today.
- ¡Qué mal! Hoy hace calor de verdad.How bad! It is really hot today.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are sitting in a park during the afternoon.
- DanielElena, ¿no sientes que hoy hace calor?Elena, don't you feel that it is hot today?
- ElenaSí, Daniel, hace mucho calor.Yes, Daniel, it is very hot.
- DanielDeberíamos buscar una sombra.We should look for some shade.
- ElenaBuena idea, yo también tengo calor.Good idea, I am hot too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries calor, hace, hoy, CC BY-SA 4.0.
