hace fresco
/aθe fɾesko/from spelling rules
To say "the weather is cool" in Spanish, use hace fresco.
The phrase hace fresco is used to describe a temperature that is moderately cold in a pleasant way. The word fresco itself means "cool". You might also hear está bastante fresco to mean "it's quite cool".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb hacer (to make/do) and the adjective fresco (cool/fresh), literally translating to "it makes fresh/cool".
Which one should you use?
While hace fresco describes a pleasant or moderate coolness, hace frío is used to describe a more uncomfortable or biting cold.
How do you pronounce it?
/aθe fɾesko/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use el tiempo es fresco to say "the weather is cool", but in Spanish, hace is the standard verb used to describe these weather conditions.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, fresco can be used to describe a person's personality, implying they are overly bold, cheeky or even slightly disrespectful.
- In the art world, a fresco is a painting created by applying pigments to wet lime plaster, which is why it is called 'fresh'.
- The word fresco is a linguistic traveler that comes from a Proto-Germanic root via Vulgar Latin, making it a distant relative of the English word 'fresh'.
Examples in context
- Hoy hace fresco en la ciudad.Today it is cool in the city.
- Me gusta cuando hace fresco.I like it when it is cool.
- No lleves manga corta, hace fresco.Don't wear short sleeves, it is cool.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are deciding whether to go for a walk in the park.
- Sofía¿Quieres ir al parque ahora?Do you want to go to the park now?
- MateoSí, hace fresco y es agradable.Yes, it is cool and pleasant.
- SofíaPerfecto, me encanta este clima.Perfect, I love this weather.
- MateoVamos entonces.Let's go then.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fresco, hace, CC BY-SA 4.0.
