refrigerar después de abrir
/refɾixeɾaɾ despwes de abɾiɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "refrigerate after opening" is translated into Spanish as refrigerar después de abrir.
This phrase is the standard impersonal instruction found on food and beverage packaging in Spanish-speaking markets to indicate that a product must be kept cold once the seal is broken.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the infinitive verb refrigerar (to refrigerate), the prepositional phrase después de (after) and the infinitive abrir (to open).
How does it change in a sentence?
The variation refrigerar después de abierto is also grammatically correct and can be seen on labels, where it translates to "refrigerate after [it is] opened".
Did you know?
- The word abrir is a distant relative of the rare English word 'apricate', which means to bask in the sun.
- While refrigerar is the technical term on packaging, Spanish speakers in casual settings prefer enfriar when talking about cooling a drink.
- The phrase refrigerar después de abrir uses the infinitive form of the verbs to act as a neutral, impersonal command.
Examples in context
- La etiqueta dice: refrigerar después de abrir.The label says: refrigerate after opening.
- No olvides refrigerar después de abrir la salsa.Don't forget to refrigerate after opening the sauce.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are looking at a jar of sauce in the kitchen.
- Sofía¿Debo guardar esto en la nevera?Should I keep this in the fridge?
- AlejandroSí, la etiqueta dice refrigerar después de abrir.Yes, the label says refrigerate after opening.
- SofíaGracias, Alejandro, lo guardaré ahora.Thanks, Alejandro, I will put it away now.
- AlejandroDe nada, Sofía.You're welcome, Sofía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries abrir, de, después, refrigerar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
