What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "it makes heat" because it uses the verb hacer (to make/do) instead of ser or estar (to be).
Which one should you use?
While hace calor describes the ambient temperature of the environment, tengo calor is used to express that a person feels hot.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Southern Cone, the phrase hace bochorno is used to describe hot, sultry weather. In Mexico, the expression hace un calorón is used to say it is exceptionally hot.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say it is "very" hot, you add mucho (much/a lot) before calor rather than using muy.
How do you pronounce it?
/aθe kaloɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the verb estar (está calor) instead of hacer (hace calor) when describing the weather.
When do people say it?
Hace un calor infernal is an informal expression used to emphasize intense heat.
Did you know?
- If you say estoy caliente instead of tengo calor to mean you feel hot, you may accidentally imply that you are feeling sexually aroused.
- While hace calor describes the air, saying está caliente usually describes a physical object that is hot to the touch, like a plate or a cup of coffee.
- The English word 'calorie' shares the same Proto-Indo-European root as calor, linking the concept of heat directly to the energy we measure in food.
Examples in context
- Hace calor ahí fuera.It's hot outside.This sentence is useful for saying it's hot outside.Tatoeba #1100975 by Shishir, translation #9741408 by DJ_Saidez
- En verano hace calor.It's hot in the summer.This sentence is useful for saying it's hot in the summer.Tatoeba #8323875 by arh, translation #9706266 by DJ_Saidez
- Hace calor aquí abajo.It's hot down here.This sentence is useful for saying it's hot down here.Tatoeba #1614497 by marcelostockle, translation #1582070 by Spamster
- Buenos días, señora. Hoy hace mucho calor, ¿no?Good morning, ma'am. It's very hot today, isn't it?
- ¡Amigo, hace un calor que pela! Vamos a tomar algo fresco.Man, it's scorching hot! Let's go grab something refreshing.
- ¿Has salido afuera? ¡Hace un calor infernal hoy!Have you been outside? It's an intense heat today!
- ¡Ay, qué bochorno hace hoy! No quiero ni salir de casa.Oh, it's so sultry today! I don't even want to leave the house.
- ¡Mira ese termómetro! ¡Hace un calorón hoy!Look at that thermometer! It's really hot today!
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are walking together in a park.
- MateoUff, hace calor hoy, ¿verdad?Ugh, it's hot today, right?
- ElenaSí, Mateo, el sol está muy fuerte.Yes, Mateo, the sun is very strong.
- Mateo¿Quieres comprar un agua fría?Do you want to buy a cold water?
- ElenaSí, por favor, Elena tiene mucha sed.Yes, please, Elena is very thirsty.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries calor, hace, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
