What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of demasiado (meaning too or too much) and caliente (meaning hot).
Which one should you use?
Use demasiado caliente for objects (like soup or coffee), but use hace demasiado calor to describe the weather or ambient temperature.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the expression ¡hace un calorón! is used to mean "it's extremely hot!" Additionally, in certain Latin American countries, the phrase está que quema can be used to mean "it's burning". For an informal way to say "it's insanely hot", you can use Está haciendo un calor infernal.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using demasiado as an adverb to modify the adjective caliente, it remains in its masculine singular form regardless of the gender of the subject.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying estoy caliente to mean "I am hot" regarding temperature. In Spanish, this phrase implies sexual arousal. To express that you are feeling hot, use tengo calor instead.
Did you know?
- The Spanish word for 'hot' caliente is a distant relative of the English word 'calorie', as both derive from the Latin root for heat.
- The word demasiado comes from the noun demasía, which means 'excess' or 'surplus'.
- While demasiado caliente describes objects, Spanish uses the verb hacer (to make/do) to talk about the weather, effectively saying the weather 'makes' heat.
Examples in context
- La sopa está demasiado caliente.The soup is too hot.This sentence shows how to say the soup is too hot using demasiado caliente.Tatoeba #1528092 by marcelostockle, translation #1106888 by Scott
- Este té está demasiado caliente.This tea is too hot.This sentence shows how to say the tea is too hot using demasiado caliente.Tatoeba #10051315 by manufrutos, translation #10050853 by ddnktr
- El café estaba demasiado caliente para beberlo.The coffee was too hot for me to drink.This sentence shows how to say the coffee was too hot using demasiado caliente.Tatoeba #1526072 by marcelostockle, translation #50496 by CK
- Disculpe, ¿está haciendo mucho calor aquí adentro?Excuse me, is it getting really hot in here?
- La temperatura ha aumentado tanto que el calor se ha vuelto insoportable.The temperature has risen so much that the heat has become unbearable.
- Estamos en pleno verano y está haciendo un calor infernal.We're in the middle of summer, and it's insanely hot.
- No salgas ahora, el sol está que arde.Don't go out now, the sun is burning.
- Está haciendo demasiado calor para salir sin protección solar.It's too hot to go out without sunscreen.
- ¡Hace un sol abrasador hoy!It's scorchingly sunny today!
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Daniel are in the kitchen checking the temperature of a new pan.
- María¿Puedes tocar la sartén, Daniel?Can you touch the pan, Daniel?
- DanielNo, está demasiado caliente.No, it is too hot.
- MaríaTienes razón, es peligrosa.You are right, it is dangerous.
- DanielEsperaremos un poco más.We will wait a little longer.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caliente, demasiado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
