Inklingo
Dictionary

cálido

KAH-lee-dohˈkalido

“cálido” means “warm” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:

warmA2Adjective

referring to temperature or climate

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warmB1Adjective

referring to kindness or affection

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warmB2Adjective

referring to colors like red, orange, and yellow

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warmAlso: balmy

AdjectivemA2
A bright sun shining over a golden beach with calm blue water.

📝 In Action

Me encanta el clima cálido de esta isla.

A2

I love the warm climate of this island.

Bebió un té cálido antes de irse a dormir.

B1

He drank a warm tea before going to sleep.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • frío (cold)
  • gélido (frozen/icy)

Common Collocations

  • clima cálido – warm climate
  • aire cálido – warm air

warmAlso: hearty

AdjectivemB1
Two people sharing a friendly hug in a cozy room.

📝 In Action

Nos dieron una bienvenida muy cálida.

B1

They gave us a very warm welcome.

Ella tiene una voz cálida y reconfortante.

B2

She has a warm and comforting voice.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • afectuoso (affectionate)
  • amable (kind)

Antonyms

  • distante (distant)
  • frío (cold/unfriendly)

Common Collocations

  • bienvenida cálida – warm welcome
  • trato cálido – warm treatment/kindness

warm

AdjectivemB2
A palette or pattern of vibrant red, orange, and yellow circles.

📝 In Action

Prefiero usar colores cálidos para decorar el salón.

B2

I prefer using warm colors to decorate the living room.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • tonos cálidos – warm tones
  • luz cálida – warm light

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "cálido" in Spanish:

balmy

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: cálido

Question 1 of 1

Which of these is the best way to describe a friendly and welcoming person?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
calor(heat) — Noun
calentar(to heat up) — Verb
calidez(warmth) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes
pálidoválido
📚 Etymology

From the Latin 'calidus', which meant hot or glowing. While it started out describing physical heat, it eventually evolved in Spanish to mean a gentle, comfortable warmth.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: caldoFrench: chaud

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'cálido' to describe food?

It is better to use 'caliente' for food. 'Cálido' is mostly for the environment, climate, personality, or colors.

Does 'cálido' have a feminine form?

Yes! If you are describing a feminine noun (like 'la luz' or 'la bienvenida'), you must change it to 'cálida'.