calentar y enfriar
/kalentaɾ i enfɾjaɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "warm up and cool down" is expressed in Spanish as calentar y enfriar.
This phrase describes the process of preparing the body for exercise and returning it to a resting state afterward. While the verbs calentar y enfriar describe the actions, you may encounter the nouns calentamiento and enfriamiento when referring specifically to the warm-up and cool-down phases of a workout routine. Additionally, the term recuperación can be used to refer to the recovery or cooling down phase.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb calentar literally means "to heat up" or "to warm up", while the verb enfriar literally means "to cool down" or "to chill".
Which one should you use?
In Spanish, you can use the verbs calentar y enfriar to describe the actions of warming up and cooling down. However, when speaking about the specific periods or stages within a fitness routine, it is more common to use the nouns calentamiento (warm-up) and enfriamiento (cool-down).
How do you pronounce it?
/kalentaɾ i enfɾjaɾ/
Did you know?
- The verb enfriar can be used metaphorically to describe a relationship or a deal that is losing momentum. When a romantic spark fades, a Spaniard might say the relationship has enfriado.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, you might hear an athlete say they are calentando motores to mean they are warming up, even if they are not using an actual engine.
- The word enfriar comes from the Latin īnfrigidāre, which combines a prefix with the root for 'cold'. This is the same root that gives English the word 'frigid'.
Examples in context
- No olvide entrar en calor antes de comenzar el entrenamiento.Don't forget to warm up before starting the workout.
- Antes de hacer ejercicio, tienes que calentar bien.Before exercising, you have to warm up properly.
- La recuperación adecuada incluye una fase de enfriamiento.Proper recovery includes a cooling down phase.
Example conversation
Two friends are at the gym preparing for a workout.
- MaríaMateo, ¿estamos listos para empezar?Mateo, are we ready to start?
- MateoSí, pero primero hay que calentar y enfriar.Yes, but first we have to warm up and cool down.
- MaríaTienes razón, María no quiere lesionarse.You're right, María doesn't want to get injured.
- MateoExacto, hagamos el estiramiento ahora.Exactly, let's do the stretching now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries calentar, enfriar, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
