que arde
/ke aɾde/from spelling rules
The English phrase smoking hot can be translated into Spanish as que arde.
The phrase que arde is used to describe objects that are physically hot enough to cause a burning sensation.
How do you pronounce it?
/ke aɾde/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, calling a dish que arde can be a warning that the food is extremely spicy rather than just high in temperature.
- To describe someone as 'smoking hot' in terms of beauty, a speaker would say está que arde or está cañón instead of just que arde.
- The word que in this phrase is a linguistic survivor that historically took over the roles of the Latin word 'quod', even though it actually descends from the Latin 'quid' which means 'what'.
Examples in context
- Ese actor es sumamente atractivoThat actor is extremely attractive
- Ten cuidado, la sartén está que arde.Be careful, the pan is smoking hot.
- El café está que arde, espera un poco.The coffee is smoking hot, wait a little.
- Toca el motor con cuidado, está que arde.Touch the engine carefully, it is smoking hot.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are in a kitchen.
- Mateo¿Quieres que te sirva la sopa, Sofía?Do you want me to serve you the soup, Sofía?
- SofíaNo, gracias, la olla está que arde.No, thanks, the pot is smoking hot.
- MateoEs verdad, el caldo está que arde.It's true, the broth is smoking hot.
- SofíaEsperaré unos minutos antes de probarlo.I will wait a few minutes before trying it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries que, CC BY-SA 4.0.
