calentamiento
/kalentaˈmjento/
The Spanish word for "warmup" is calentamiento.
calentamiento refers to a period of light exercise intended to prepare the body for more intense physical activity. If you wish to refer specifically to the activities themselves, you can use the phrase Ejercicios de calentamiento to mean "warmup exercises".
What does it mean word for word?
The noun calentamiento is derived from the verb calentar (to heat or warm) and the suffix -miento, which is used to form nouns that indicate a process or a state.
How does it change in a sentence?
While calentamiento is the noun used to name the warmup, the reflexive verb calentarse is frequently used when describing the actual act of warming up one's body.
How do you pronounce it?
/kalentaˈmjento/
Did you know?
- The word calentamiento is the same term used in Spanish to describe 'global warming', or calentamiento global.
- While calentamiento is the standard term for a physical warmup, you might also hear athletes use the word entrada en calor in many South American countries. This literally translates to 'entry into heat'.
- The suffix -miento in calentamiento is a linguistic relative of the English suffix '-ment', as seen in words like 'development'. Both stem from the same Latin roots used to turn verbs into nouns describing a process.
Examples in context
- Vamos a realizar los ejercicios de calentamiento antes de la prácticaWe're going to do the warmup exercises before the practice
- Vamos a comenzar la clase de yoga con un breve calentamientoWe're going to start the yoga class with a brief warmup
- Antes de salir a correr, siempre hago ejercicios de calentamientoBefore going out for a run, I always do warmup exercises
- Es importante hacer un calentamiento antes de correr.It is important to do a warmup before running.
- El calentamiento es esencial antes de correr.The warmup is essential before running.
- No olvides hacer un buen calentamiento.Don't forget to do a good warmup.
- Terminamos el calentamiento rápidamente.We finished the warmup quickly.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are at the gym together.
- DanielHola Sofía, ¿estás lista para entrenar?Hi Sofía, are you ready to work out?
- SofíaCasi, solo me falta el calentamiento.Almost, I just need the warmup.
- DanielYo ya terminé el mío hace diez minutos.I finished mine ten minutes ago.
- SofíaEspérame un momento y empezamos.Wait for me a moment and we'll start.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry calentamiento, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries calentamiento, CC BY-SA 4.0.
