Greetings! If you are learning Spanish or planning to visit a Spanish-speaking country, it’s essential to know how to express negative temperatures. Whether you want to discuss the chilly weather or measure the temperature of a freezing day, this guide will provide you with an extensive list of phrases, examples, and tips for saying negative degrees in Spanish. So, let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Formal and Informal Expressions: Let’s Break it Down
Spanish, like any language, has both formal and informal ways to express concepts. When discussing negative temperatures, you can adapt your language to the situation, whether it’s a casual conversation or a formal setting. Let’s explore both options:
Formal Expressions:
In more formal environments, such as official reports or professional conversations, you can use the following phrases:
- Hace XX grados bajo cero: This translates to “It is XX degrees below zero.” For example, “Hace 5 grados bajo cero” means “It is 5 degrees below zero.”
- La temperatura está bajo cero: This phrase means “The temperature is below zero.” It provides a simple and direct way to express negative temperatures.
- La temperatura ha descendido a XX grados negativos: Use this expression to state that the temperature has descended to a specific negative value. For instance, “La temperatura ha descendido a 10 grados negativos” means “The temperature has descended to 10 degrees below zero.”
Informal Expressions:
If you’re in a casual setting or having a conversation with friends, family, or colleagues, you can use less formal expressions:
- Hace XX grados bajo cero: Same as the formal expression, this phrase is widely used in informal contexts as well.
- Está haciendo un frío de XX grados bajo cero: Translating to “It is a cold of XX degrees below zero,” this expression emphasizes the intensity of the cold weather.
- ¡Hace un frío que pela!/¡Hace un frío que pela la piel! This colloquial expression, meaning “It’s freezing!/It’s freezing the skin!” emphasizes extreme cold. It’s used in conversational contexts to express discomfort due to the low temperatures.
Using Negative Degree Phrases in Context
Now, let’s see some practical examples of how negative degree phrases can be used in conversation:
Example 1:
Person A: ¿Qué tal el clima hoy? (How’s the weather today?)
Person B: Hace 3 grados bajo cero. (It’s 3 degrees below zero.)
Example 2:
Person A: ¿Qué temperatura tienen en tu ciudad ahora? (What’s the temperature in your city right now?)
Person B: La temperatura ha descendido a 6 grados negativos. (The temperature has descended to 6 degrees below zero.)
Example 3:
Person A: Hace un frío impresionante. (It’s incredibly cold.)
Person B: ¡Sí, hace un frío que pela la piel! (Yes, it’s freezing!)
Additional Tips and Regional Variations
While the expressions mentioned above are widely used across Spanish-speaking countries, certain regions may have unique expressions or variations. Here are a few tips and regional adaptations:
- In some Latin American countries, the phrase “hace X grados bajo cero” might be replaced by “marca X grados bajo cero” or “registra X grados bajo cero.” This change is purely regional and does not affect comprehension.
- When discussing negative temperatures, it’s crucial to remember that Spanish uses the Celsius scale. So, you won’t find Fahrenheit measurements. It’s always necessary to specify degrees “bajo cero” (below zero) to differentiate it from positive temperatures.
Conclusion
Congratulations on enhancing your knowledge of expressing negative degrees in Spanish! In this guide, we covered both formal and informal phrases, practical examples, and regional variations. Remember to adapt your language to the context and enjoy conversing about the weather with confidence. So, whether you’ll be experiencing cold climates or simply discussing weather patterns, you’re well-prepared with this comprehensive guide. ¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)
