It is cold
in SpanishHace frío
/AH-seh FREE-oh/
The standard way to describe cold weather anywhere in the Spanish-speaking world. Literally translates to 'it makes cold.'
💬Other Ways to Say It
Hace mucho frío
/AH-seh MOO-choh FREE-oh/
Used when the temperature is significantly lower than comfortable. The standard intensifier for weather is 'mucho' (much), not 'muy' (very).
Está helando
/ehs-TAH eh-LAHN-doh/
Literally means 'it is freezing.' used for extreme cold, usually around or below 0°C (32°F).
Está fresco
/ehs-TAH FREHS-koh/
Means 'it is cool' or 'it is chilly.' Not uncomfortably cold, just crisp.
Tengo frío
/TEHN-goh FREE-oh/
Means 'I am cold' (literally 'I have cold'). This describes your body sensation, not the weather itself.
Qué frío hace
/keh FREE-oh AH-seh/
An exclamation meaning 'How cold it is!'
Hace un frío que pela
/AH-seh oon FREE-oh keh PEH-lah/
A colorful idiom from Spain meaning 'It's so cold it peels [your skin].'
Está cayendo nieve
/ehs-TAH cah-YEHN-doh NYEH-veh/
Means 'It is snowing' (literally 'snow is falling').
🔑Key Words
Key Words to learn:
📊Quick Comparison
Understanding the difference between describing the weather, your feelings, and objects is the most important part of this topic.
| Phrase | Literal Meaning | Best For | Avoid When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hace frío | Describing the weather outside. | Describing how you personally feel. | |
| Tengo frío | Describing your body sensation (you need a jacket). | Describing the weather objectively. | |
| Está frío | Describing an object (soup, beer, floor). | Describing the general weather atmosphere. |
📈Difficulty Level
The 'H' in 'Hace' is silent. It sounds like 'Ah-seh'. Once you get that, it's easy.
Using 'hacer' (to do) for weather instead of 'is' is a logic shift for English speakers.
Fairly straightforward, though definitions of 'cold' vary by region.
Key Challenges:
- Remembering to use 'Hace' not 'Es'
- Distinguishing between 'Tengo frío' (me) and 'Hace frío' (weather)
💡Examples in Action
Hoy no quiero salir porque hace mucho frío.
I don't want to go out today because it's very cold.
¿Tienes un suéter? Tengo frío en esta oficina.
Do you have a sweater? I am cold in this office.
Ponte el abrigo, que está helando afuera.
Put on your coat, it's freezing outside.
Aunque hace sol, el viento está fresco.
Even though it's sunny, the wind is cool/chilly.
🌍Cultural Context
The 'Doing' of Weather
In English, we say the weather 'is' something (it is cold). In Spanish, the weather 'does' or 'makes' things. When you say 'hace frío,' you are literally saying the universe 'makes cold.' This is why we use the verb 'hacer' instead of 'ser' or 'estar' for general weather descriptions.
Temperature Perception
What counts as 'cold' varies wildly across the Spanish-speaking world. In the Caribbean or coastal Colombia, people might say 'hace frío' and put on a jacket when it drops to 20°C (68°F). In the Andes mountains or southern Argentina, 'hace frío' usually implies temperatures near freezing.
The 'Artificial Winter'
In very hot regions like parts of Mexico or the Caribbean, air conditioning is often set to freezing temperatures in malls and offices. It is very common to hear people complain 'tengo frío' (I am cold) indoors, even if it is 35°C (95°F) outside.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'I am' and 'It is'
Mistake: "Saying 'Soy frío' to mean 'I am cold.'"
Correction: Tengo frío (I have cold).
Using 'Es' for Weather
Mistake: "Saying 'Es frío' to describe the weather."
Correction: Hace frío.
Using 'Muy' instead of 'Mucho'
Mistake: "Saying 'Hace muy frío.'"
Correction: Hace mucho frío.
💡Pro Tips
People Have, Weather Makes
The easiest way to remember the difference: The weather MAKES cold (hace frío), but people HAVE cold (tengo frío). If you touch a cold beer, that object IS cold (está fría).
Exaggerating for Effect
To sound like a native speaker, don't just say it's cold. Add emphasis! Use 'Hace un frío horrible' (It's horribly cold) or 'Me estoy congelando' (I am freezing) to add drama to your conversation.
🗺️Regional Variations
Spain
Spaniards have many colorful idioms for cold. 'Rasca' is a very common slang term for that biting, sharp cold feeling.
Mexico
In Mexico, 'un buen' is a common slang quantifier meaning 'a lot.' You will hear people emphasize the cold this way often.
Argentina / Uruguay
The Southern Cone gets actual winter, so their vocabulary for cold is well-used. 'Bárbaro' is a common intensifier for everything, including weather.
Caribbean (Cuba, PR, DR)
Since it rarely gets truly cold, 'fresco' or 'friíto' are used affectionately when the temperature drops slightly, often around Christmas.
💬What Comes Next?
Someone says 'Hace frío' (It's cold)
Sí, bastante.
Yes, quite a bit.
Debería haber traído una chaqueta.
I should have brought a jacket.
You enter a house and say 'Qué frío hace afuera' (It's so cold outside)
Pasa, aquí está calientito.
Come in, it's warm in here.
Gracias, me estoy congelando.
Thanks, I'm freezing.
🧠Memory Tricks
Think of 'HACE' (sounds like Ace). The weather is the 'Ace' that controls the game—it MAKES the rules. So the weather 'HACE' frío.
To remember 'Tengo' (I have) for feelings, imagine you have the shivers. You possess the cold sensation.
🔄How It Differs from English
The biggest mental shift is that Spanish treats weather as an action (it makes cold) and physical sensations as a possession (I have cold). English treats both as a state of being (It is cold, I am cold).
False Friends & Common Confusions:
Why it's different: Translating this literally as 'Soy frío' means you are a cold-hearted person.
Use instead: Tengo frío (I have cold).
Why it's different: Translating 'very' as 'muy' (Hace muy frío) is incorrect because 'frío' functions as a noun here.
Use instead: Hace mucho frío (It makes much cold).
🎯Your Learning Path
➡️ Learn Next:
How to say it is hot
It uses the exact same grammar structure (Hace calor), so it's easy to learn immediately after.
Weather vocabulary in Spanish
Expand beyond just temperature to rain, wind, and sun.
Using Tener for feelings
Master other phrases like 'I am hungry' or 'I am scared' that also use 'Tener' (to have).
✏️Test Your Knowledge
💡 Quick Quiz: It is cold
Question 1 of 3
You step outside and a freezing wind hits your face. What do you say to your friend?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I say 'Está frío' for the weather?
It is becoming more common in some casual dialects to hear 'está frío' referring to the day, but 'hace frío' is the standard, correct way to describe weather. 'Está frío' is best reserved for objects, like 'el café está frío' (the coffee is cold).
Why do Spanish speakers say 'Mucho frío' instead of 'Muy frío'?
This is a grammar quirk! In 'Hace frío,' the word 'frío' is actually a noun (the cold), not an adjective. So literally, you are saying 'It makes a lot of cold' (mucho frío), not 'It makes very cold' (muy frío).
How do I say 'I am freezing'?
You can say 'Me estoy congelando.' This is a reflexive verb phrase that literally means 'I am freezing myself,' used just like in English to complain about extreme cold.
Is 'fresco' the same as cold?
Not quite. 'Fresco' means cool, fresh, or chilly. It's pleasant or manageable cold, whereas 'frío' implies you need a coat. If you just need a light sweater, it's 'fresco.'
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