helado
/eh-LAH-doh/
ice cream
As a noun, helado is the Spanish word for this chilly dessert: ice cream.
helado(noun)
ice cream
?frozen dessert
gelato
?often used for high-quality or artisanal ice cream
,frozen dessert
?general term
📝 In Action
Quiero un helado de chocolate, por favor.
A1I want a chocolate ice cream, please.
Compramos tres litros de helado para la fiesta.
A2We bought three liters of ice cream for the party.
Este helado de vainilla es el mejor que he probado.
B1This vanilla ice cream is the best I have ever tasted.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Rule
Even though it refers to a sweet treat, 'helado' is always masculine (el helado), regardless of the flavor.
⭐ Usage Tips
Flavor Order
When asking for a flavor, say 'helado de [flavor]': helado de fresa (strawberry ice cream).
When something is turned to ice, we describe it using the adjective helado, meaning frozen.
helado(adjective)
frozen
?turned to ice
icy
?covered in ice
,chilled
?very cold
,stunned/paralyzed
?figurative meaning, usually with 'quedar'
📝 In Action
El agua de la piscina está helada.
A2The water in the pool is icy cold (frozen).
Me quedé helado cuando escuché la noticia.
B1I was stunned (frozen/shocked) when I heard the news.
Tuvimos que descongelar la carne helada.
A2We had to thaw the frozen meat.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement
As an adjective, 'helado' must change its ending to match the noun it describes: 'el café helado' (masculine singular), 'la bebida helada' (feminine singular), 'los pies helados' (masculine plural).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting Agreement
Mistake: "El agua está helado."
Correction: El agua está helada. Remember that 'agua' is feminine, even though it uses 'el' in the singular, so the adjective must be feminine.
⭐ Usage Tips
Stronger than 'Frío'
Use 'helado' when something is extremely cold, beyond just 'frío.' It implies a temperature close to freezing or something that feels like ice.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: helado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'helado' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'helado' and 'congelado'?
'Helado' usually refers to something that is naturally or extremely cold (like weather or ice cream), or figuratively stunned. 'Congelado' specifically means something has been put in a freezer to preserve it (like frozen vegetables).
Why is the noun 'helado' masculine, but the adjective can be feminine?
The noun 'el helado' (ice cream) is masculine because that's just its assigned gender. The adjective form ('helado,' 'helada,' 'helados,' 'heladas') changes its ending to match the gender and quantity of the thing it is describing, like 'la bebida helada' (the icy drink).