Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| al aire libre | /al ˌaiɾe ˈlibɾe/ |
| a la intemperie | /a la intemˈpeɾje/ |
| al fresco | /al ˈfɾesko/ |
To say 'outdoors' in a general sense for activities like sports, leisure, use al aire libre. While aire libre and intemperie can function as nouns referring to the outdoor environment, the full adverbial phrases are used to describe being outside.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase al aire libre literally translates to 'to the free air'.
Which one should you use?
The different Spanish forms are used for specific contexts. Al aire libre is the neutral, most common way to describe general outdoor activities. In contrast, a la intemperie implies being exposed to the elements or the weather without any shelter, often suggesting a sense of vulnerability. Finally, al fresco is a specific term used when referring to dining or eating outside.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the noun intemperie to refer to the elements or the open air, it is almost always preceded by the preposition 'a' to form the phrase a la intemperie.
How do you pronounce it?
/al ˌaiɾe ˈlibɾe/
Did you know?
- While al fresco describes eating outdoors in Spanish, the English phrase 'al fresco' is actually a loanword from this Spanish usage, not a direct borrowing from Italian.
- The phrase a la intemperie is often used to describe people who are homeless or livestock left without shelter, as it emphasizes a lack of protection from the cold and rain.
- The word libre in the phrase al aire libre shares an ancient root with the word for 'people', stemming from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'people' or 'group'.
Examples in context
- Haz ejercicio al aire libre.Exercise outdoors.This sentence shows how to use al aire libre with an instruction to exercise.Tatoeba #4557150 by swyter, translation #1293081 by CK
- La fiesta será al aire libre si el tiempo lo permite.The party will be held outdoors, weather permitting.This sentence demonstrates the use of al aire libre when discussing event planning.Tatoeba #2062075 by lazarus1907, translation #278808 by CM
- Tom disfruta estar al aire libre.Tom enjoys being outdoors.This sentence illustrates how to use al aire libre to express enjoyment of the outdoors.Tatoeba #6831572 by mervert1, translation #6831526 by Hybrid
- Me encanta pasar tiempo al aire libre los fines de semana.I love spending time outdoors on weekends.
- El parque cuenta con amplios espacios abiertos para disfrutar en familia.The park has extensive outdoor areas to enjoy with the family.
- ¿Vamos a hacer un picnic al aire libre mañana?Shall we have a picnic outdoors tomorrow?
- ¡Hace un día maravilloso para estar fuera!It's a wonderful day to be outside!
- Los niños están jugando afuera del edificio.The children are playing outside the building.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are deciding where to eat lunch.
- Elena¿Quieres comer al aire libre hoy?Do you want to eat outdoors today?
- DanielSí, me encanta comer al aire libre.Yes, I love eating outdoors.
- ElenaBusquemos una mesa en el parque.Let's find a table in the park.
- DanielEs una excelente idea, Elena.That is an excellent idea, Elena.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “outdoors” translations and entries al aire libre, a la intemperie, al fresco, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, aire, fresco, intemperie, la, libre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
