grados bajo cero
/ɡɾados baxo θeɾo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "negative degrees" is translated into Spanish as grados bajo cero.
In Spanish, this phrase refers to temperatures that are below the freezing point of water. While you can use the mathematically correct term grados negativos, it is more common to use grados bajo cero when discussing the weather.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase grados bajo cero literally means "degrees below zero".
Which one should you use?
grados bajo cero is the most common way to express temperatures below freezing, whereas grados negativos serves as a mathematically accurate alternative.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, instead of saying hace X grados bajo cero, you might use the phrases marca X grados bajo cero or registra X grados bajo cero.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify a specific temperature, place the number before the phrase, such as in diez grados bajo cero (ten degrees below zero).
When do people say it?
When it is extremely cold, a common colloquial expression used is ¡Hace un frío que pela!, which means "It's freezing!"
Did you know?
- To describe extreme cold, Spanish speakers use the phrase ¡Hace un frío que pela!, which literally suggests a cold that 'peels' or 'strips' the skin.
- The word cero traces its roots back to the Arabic word ṣifr, which means 'empty' or 'void'.
- In mathematical contexts, grados negativos is used, but using this phrase to describe the weather in a casual conversation can sound unnaturally clinical to native speakers.
Examples in context
- Hace 5 grados bajo ceroIt is 5 degrees below zero.
- La temperatura ha descendido a 10 grados negativosThe temperature has descended to 10 degrees below zero.
- Hace 3 grados bajo cero.It's 3 degrees below zero.
- La temperatura ha descendido a 6 grados negativos.The temperature has descended to 6 degrees below zero.
- Estamos a cinco grados bajo cero.It is five degrees below zero.
- Hoy hace cinco grados bajo cero.Today it is five degrees below zero.
- La temperatura bajó a diez grados bajo cero.The temperature dropped to ten degrees below zero.
Example conversation
María and Daniel are talking about the weather before going outside.
- María¿Sabes qué temperatura hace hoy?Do you know what the temperature is today?
- DanielSí, hace tres grados bajo cero.Yes, it is three degrees below zero.
- María¡Qué frío! Necesito mi bufanda.How cold! I need my scarf.
- DanielYo también me pondré la chaqueta.I will put on my jacket too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bajo, cero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
