calor
/kah-LOR/
heat
Calor means heat, often referring to high temperatures or hot weather.
📝 In Action
Hace mucho calor en verano aquí.
A1It is very hot in the summer here.
Tengo tanto calor que necesito un helado.
A1I am so hot that I need an ice cream.
El calor del fuego nos mantuvo cómodos.
A2The warmth of the fire kept us comfortable.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun Rule
Even though 'calor' ends in '-or', it is a masculine noun. Always use 'el' before it (el calor).
Feeling Hot: Tener vs. Estar
To talk about feeling hot, Spanish uses the verb 'tener' (to have). You say 'Tengo calor' (I have heat), NOT 'Soy/Estoy caliente'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up the feeling and the object
Mistake: "Estoy caliente. (I am hot.)"
Correction: Tengo calor. ('Estoy caliente' usually refers to being sexually aroused, which is usually not what you mean!)
Using 'hacer' incorrectly
Mistake: "El día es calor."
Correction: The correct way to talk about the weather is 'Hace calor' (It makes heat).
⭐ Usage Tips
The Weather Trick
To describe the weather, use 'HACE' (a form of the verb 'hacer') + the noun: 'Hace calor' (It's hot) or 'Hace frío' (It's cold).
Calor can also mean passion, representing emotional intensity or enthusiasm.
calor(noun)
passion
?emotional intensity or enthusiasm
,fervor
?intense feeling
warmth
?friendliness, emotional welcome
📝 In Action
Puso mucho calor en su presentación, y todos aplaudieron.
B1He put a lot of passion into his presentation, and everyone applauded.
Nos recibieron con gran calor humano.
B2They welcomed us with great human warmth/kindness.
El calor del debate era palpable.
C1The fervor (intensity) of the debate was palpable.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
In this context, 'calor' moves from physical temperature to emotional temperature, indicating high energy or intensity.
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Warmth
To describe a friendly, welcoming environment, use the phrase 'calor humano' (human warmth).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: calor
Question 1 of 2
If you are feeling uncomfortably warm, which phrase should you use to express it in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Spanish speakers use 'tener' (to have) instead of 'estar' (to be) when they feel hot?
This is a key difference between Spanish and English! In Spanish, feelings like heat ('calor'), cold ('frío'), hunger, and thirst are treated as things you 'possess' temporarily, not states you 'are' in. So, you 'have heat' (Tengo calor).
Is 'calor' always masculine?
Yes. Even though many Spanish words ending in -r are feminine, 'calor' is strictly masculine. You must always use 'el calor', 'mucho calor', etc.