muy frío
/mui fɾio/from spelling rules
The English phrase "very cold" is translated into Spanish as muy frío.
This phrase is used to describe a temperature that is significantly below average.
What does it mean word for word?
The word muy is an adverb meaning "very" and is used to intensify the adjective frío.
Which one should you use?
Use muy frío with the verb estar to describe a temporary state or sensation, such as 'the water is very cold', whereas ser muy frío would describe a permanent characteristic of a person (being an unfriendly person).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase must agree in gender with the noun it describes, so use muy fría for feminine nouns. The phrase must agree in number with the noun it describes, using muy fríos for masculine plural or muy frías for feminine plural.
Did you know?
- When someone feels muy frío, they might say tengo frío, which literally translates to 'I have cold' rather than 'I am cold'.
- The word frío is related to the English word 'frigid', but in Spanish frígido is a separate, more formal doublet often used in technical or sexual contexts.
- Spanish has a specific word fresquito which describes a 'pleasantly cold' temperature, a nuance that muy frío does not capture.
Examples in context
- Esto está muy frío.This is very cold.This sentence is useful for stating that something is very cold using the form muy frío.Tatoeba #7153328 by arh, translation #8395666 by shekitten
- Este muro está muy frío.This wall feels very cold.This sentence is useful for describing how a wall feels using the form muy frío.Tatoeba #1646599 by Shishir, translation #57213 by CK
- El piso estaba muy frío.The floor was very cold.This sentence is useful for describing a past state of the floor using the form muy frío.Tatoeba #2705689 by emanuel81, translation #2561957 by Hybrid
- Las temperaturas han llegado a niveles extremadamente fríos este invierno.Temperatures have reached extremely cold levels this winter.
- No salgas sin tu abrigo, la noche está heladora.Don't go out without your coat, the night is freezing.
- ¡No quiero salir de casa, hace un frío que pela!I don't want to leave the house, it's freezing cold!
- ¡Abrígate bien antes de salir, está congelando afuera!Bundle up before going out, it's freezing outside!
- ¡Qué frío!How cold!
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Javier are talking about the weather outside.
- MaríaJavier, ¿está haciendo frío afuera?Javier, is it cold outside?
- JavierSí, el viento está muy frío hoy.Yes, the wind is very cold today.
- MaríaEntonces voy a llevar un abrigo.Then I am going to wear a coat.
- JavierEs una buena idea, María.That is a good idea, María.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries frío, muy, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
