Inklingo

How to Say "chill" in Spanish

English → Spanish

frío

nounA1general
Use 'frío' when referring to the general feeling of coldness in the environment or on your body, like the weather being cold.

Examples

¡Qué frío hace hoy!

It's so cold today!

escalofrío

nounA2general
Use 'escalofrío' for a specific, sudden physical sensation of coldness, often involuntary and accompanied by shivering, such as when you have a fever or are very scared.

Examples

Tengo escalofríos por la fiebre.

I have the chills because of the fever.

cool

/kool//kul/

adjectiveA1informal
Use 'cool' (borrowed from English) when describing someone or something as relaxed, fashionable, or impressive, similar to its English usage.
A person wearing stylish sunglasses and a colorful backwards baseball cap, giving a thumbs up.

Examples

Ese coche es muy cool.

That car is very cool.

Tu hermano es una persona muy cool.

Your brother is a very cool person.

¡Qué viaje tan cool hiciste a México!

What a cool trip you took to Mexico!

One word for everyone

Unlike most Spanish adjectives that change based on if you're talking about a man or a woman, 'cool' always stays the same.

Where to put it

In Spanish, you usually place 'cool' after the person or thing you are describing, just like 'un libro cool' (a cool book).

The 'O/A' Trap

Mistake:Esa chica es coola.

Correction: Esa chica es cool.

Confusing 'frío' and 'escalofrío'

Learners often confuse 'frío' (general coldness) and 'escalofrío' (a shiver). Remember that 'frío' is about the ambient temperature or a sustained feeling of being cold, while 'escalofrío' is a sudden, sharp sensation of coldness, often linked to illness or fear.

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