fresco
/FRES-koh/
cool
Fresco describes a comfortable, cool temperature.
📝 In Action
Necesitas una chaqueta, el aire está fresco.
A1You need a jacket, the air is cool.
Prefiero las mañanas frescas de primavera.
A2I prefer the cool spring mornings.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
Remember that 'fresco' must match the thing it describes. Use 'fresco' for masculine singular nouns (el aire), 'fresca' for feminine singular (la mañana), 'frescos' for masculine plural, and 'frescas' for feminine plural.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Ser' vs. 'Estar' for Weather
Mistake: "El día es fresco. (When talking about today's weather)"
Correction: Hoy hace fresco. (Use the phrase 'hacer fresco' to talk about the current temperature of the day.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Temperature Range
'Fresco' is milder than 'frío' (cold). It implies a pleasant, refreshing coolness, not true cold.
These newly picked berries are truly fresco.
📝 In Action
Compramos pescado fresco en el mercado.
A1We bought fresh fish at the market.
Ella siempre tiene ideas frescas para el trabajo.
B1She always has fresh ideas for work.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Estar' for Condition
When talking about the current state of food (is it fresh right now?), use the verb 'estar': 'La carne está fresca' (The meat is fresh).
⭐ Usage Tips
Opposite of Frozen
When referring to food that hasn't been frozen or preserved, 'fresco' is the perfect word: '¿Está congelado o fresco?' (Is it frozen or fresh?)
When someone is impudent or brazen, they are described as fresco.
📝 In Action
Es muy fresco, le pidió dinero a su jefe el primer día.
B2He is very cheeky/brazen; he asked his boss for money on the first day.
¡Qué fresca! Se saltó toda la fila.
C1How rude/shameless! She skipped the whole line.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Ser' for Personality
When 'fresco' describes someone's personality trait (being permanently cheeky or rude), always use the verb 'ser': 'Él es fresco'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
If you hear 'fresco' describing a person, it almost always means they are acting rudely or without shame, not that they are literally cool.
Fresco can also be used as a noun, meaning the state of coolness in the weather.
📝 In Action
Bajamos al sótano para disfrutar del fresco.
B1We went down to the basement to enjoy the coolness.
El guía nos mostró el fresco más antiguo de la iglesia.
B2The guide showed us the oldest fresco in the church.
💡 Grammar Points
Abstract Noun
When used as a noun meaning 'coolness,' it is an abstract concept and is always masculine: 'el fresco'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context Differentiation
If you hear 'el fresco' mentioned indoors (like a museum), it refers to the painting technique. If mentioned outdoors or in hot weather, it refers to the cooling sensation.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: fresco
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'fresco' to describe food?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know whether to use 'fresco' (cool) or 'frío' (cold)?
'Fresco' means pleasantly cool or refreshing, like a nice spring day. 'Frío' means genuinely cold, often uncomfortably so. Think of 'fresco' as mild, and 'frío' as severe.
What is the feminine form of 'fresco'?
The feminine singular form is 'fresca' (e.g., la fruta fresca, la mañana fresca). It must always agree with the noun it describes.