Inklingo

How to Say "chilled" in Spanish

English → Spanish

fresca

FRES-kah/ˈfɾeska/

adjectiveA1food or drink
Use 'fresca' when referring to food or drink that is cool, fresh, and recently prepared or acquired, emphasizing its pleasant coolness.
A bright red, perfectly ripe strawberry with a green stem resting on a clean white surface, symbolizing freshness.

Examples

La cerveza está muy fresca.

The beer is very chilled.

La lechuga está muy fresca; la acabo de comprar.

The lettuce is very fresh; I just bought it.

Me encanta el clima cuando la brisa es fresca.

I love the weather when the breeze is cool.

Adjective Agreement

Since 'fresca' describes a feminine word (like 'la comida' or 'la mañana'), it must end in '-a'. If the word were masculine (like 'el aire'), you would use 'fresco'.

resfriado

ress-free-AH-doh/resfɾiˈaðo/

adjectiveA1feeling the effects of cold air
Use 'resfriado' when describing someone who is feeling unwell because they have caught a cold or are experiencing symptoms of one.
A person wrapped in a thick blanket, wearing a winter hat, and holding a tissue to their nose.

Examples

Tengo un resfriado y me siento fatal.

I have a cold and feel awful.

Juan está resfriado y no puede venir.

Juan has a cold and can't come.

Hoy me siento un poco resfriado.

Today I feel like I'm coming down with a cold.

Estar vs Ser

Always use 'estar' when you are resfriado. This is because a cold is a temporary condition, not a permanent part of who you are!

Changing for Gender

Remember that this word ends in -o for men and -a for women. A woman would say: 'Estoy resfriada'.

helado

/eh-LAH-doh//eˈlaðo/

adjectiveA2very cold
Use 'helado' to describe something that is extremely cold, to the point of being icy or frozen.
A single green oak leaf lying flat on the ground, completely covered in a thick layer of white frost and ice crystals.

Examples

No puedo meterme en el mar, ¡está helado!

I can't go into the sea, it's icy cold!

El agua de la piscina está helada.

The water in the pool is icy cold (frozen).

Me quedé helado cuando escuché la noticia.

I was stunned (frozen/shocked) when I heard the news.

Tuvimos que descongelar la carne helada.

We had to thaw the frozen meat.

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).

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.

Confusing 'fresca' and 'helado'

Learners often confuse 'fresca' (pleasantly cool, fresh) with 'helado' (icy cold). Remember, 'fresca' is for a refreshing coolness, like a drink, while 'helado' implies a much more intense, almost freezing temperature.

Related Translations

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