frío
/FREE-oh/
cold
As an adjective, frío (or fría) describes something that has a low temperature, like this glass of iced water.
frío(Adjective)
cold
?low temperature
chilly
?slightly cold
,unfriendly
?describing a person or their actions
,indifferent
?lacking emotion
📝 In Action
El agua de la piscina está muy fría.
A1The pool water is very cold.
Prefiero el café frío en verano.
A2I prefer cold coffee in the summer.
Me dio una bienvenida muy fría.
B1He gave me a very cold (unfriendly) welcome.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching Gender
Like many descriptions in Spanish, 'frío' changes to match the thing it's describing. Use 'frío' for masculine things ('el café frío') and 'fría' for feminine things ('la sopa fría').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Describing 'How Something Is' vs. 'What Something Is'
Mistake: "El hielo está frío."
Correction: El hielo es frío. Use 'ser' (es) for essential qualities (ice is naturally cold). Use 'estar' (está) for temporary states (el té está frío - the tea is cold right now, but it shouldn't be).
⭐ Usage Tips
Feeling Cold vs. Being Cold
To say you feel cold, use 'Tengo frío' (I have cold). If you say 'Estoy frío,' it means your body is cold to the touch, like you've been outside in the snow.
As a noun, el frío refers to the condition or sensation of coldness, often used when talking about the weather, as in 'Hace frío' (It is cold).
📝 In Action
¡Qué frío hace hoy!
A1It's so cold today!
No salgas sin chaqueta, que coges frío.
A2Don't go out without a jacket, or you'll catch a cold.
El frío de la noche es intenso en el desierto.
B1The cold of the night is intense in the desert.
💡 Grammar Points
Talking About the Weather
To talk about the weather being cold, always use the special phrase 'Hace frío.' It literally means 'It makes cold.' This is a fixed expression.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Saying 'It's Cold'
Mistake: "Es frío afuera."
Correction: Hace frío afuera. When talking about the weather, Spanish uses 'hace', not 'es'. 'Es frío' describes a thing, like 'El metal es frío' (Metal is cold).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: frío
Question 1 of 1
Your friend texts you from the park. How would they say 'It's really cold today!'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you say 'tengo frío' instead of 'soy frío' or 'estoy frío'?
In Spanish, you 'have' many feelings and physical sensations. Think of it like carrying them with you. You 'have' cold ('tengo frío'), hunger ('tengo hambre'), and thirst ('tengo sed'). 'Soy frío' describes your personality (I am an unfriendly person), and 'estoy frío' means your skin is cold to the touch.
What's the difference between 'frío' and 'fresco'?
'Frío' means cold, and it's usually a stronger, often less pleasant feeling. 'Fresco' means cool or fresh, and it's usually pleasant. A soda can be 'fresca' (cool and refreshing), but the middle of winter is 'frío' (cold).