frío
“frío” means “cold” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
cold
Also: chilly, unfriendly, indifferent
📝 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.
cold
Also: chill
📝 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.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
✏️ 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
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'frīgidus', which meant 'cold, cool, or chilling'. You can see the family resemblance in English words!
First recorded: Around the year 950
Cognates (Related words)
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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).