con hielo
/kon jelo/from spelling rules
The phrase con hielo is the Spanish way to say "with ice".
con hielo is used to specify that a drink should be served with frozen water cubes in the glass.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the preposition con (with) and the noun hielo (ice).
Which one should you use?
Use con un poco de hielo to ask for a little ice, or con unos cubitos de hielo if you want to specify a few ice cubes. Additionally, con hielito is an informal version that uses a diminutive.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, ordering a drink con hielo may result in the server bringing a separate glass of ice rather than putting it in the drink.
- The word hielo shares a common ancestor with the English word 'gel', both tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root *gel- meaning 'cold'.
- While hielo refers to the frozen water, the word hielera serves a double purpose by describing both a table-side ice bucket and a portable cooler box.
Examples in context
- El té con hielo no queda bien sin azúcar.Tea with ice isn't good without sugar.This sentence shows how to use con hielo when discussing the flavor of tea.Tatoeba #462503 by lukaszpp, translation #462502 by lukaszpp
- ¿Me podría dar un vaso con hielo, por favor?Can I have a cup with ice please?This sentence shows how to use con hielo when politely requesting a glass of water.Tatoeba #434361 by lukaszpp, translation #434360 by lukaszpp
- ¿Podría traerme un vaso de agua con hielo, por favor?Could you bring me a glass of water with ice, please?
- El té helado se sirve con hielo y una rodaja de limónIced tea is served with ice and a slice of lemon
- La limonada viene acompañada de hielo picadoThe lemonade comes with crushed ice
- ¿Puedes ponerme un refresco con hielito, por favor?Can you give me a soda with ice, please?
- Me gustaría el jugo de naranja con un poco de hielo, graciasI would like the orange juice with a little ice, thank you
- Me gustaría el té con unos cubitos de hielo, por favorI would like the tea with a few ice cubes, please
- ¿Me lo podría poner con más hielo?Could you make it with more ice?
- Un café frappé, por favor, bien cargado de hieloA frappé coffee, please, heavily loaded with ice
- Hace mucho calor hoy. ¿Me traes un jugo de piña con hielo, por favor?It's very hot today. Can you bring me a pineapple juice with ice, please?
- Mejor sírvela en un vaso con hielo, por favor.Better serve it in a glass with ice, please.
- Quiero un jugo de naranja con hielo.I want an orange juice with ice.
Example conversation
At a cafe in the afternoon.
- MaríaJavier, ¿podemos pedir algo frío?Javier, can we order something cold?
- JavierSí, yo quiero un té con hielo.Yes, I want an iced tea.
- MaríaA mí me gusta el té sin hielo.I like my tea without ice.
- JavierEstá bien, pediremos cosas diferentes.That's fine, we will order different things.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries con, hielo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
