How to Say "heating" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “heating” is “calefacción” — use 'calefacción' when talking about the system or central heating that warms a house, building, or room..
calefacción
Examples
En invierno siempre encendemos la calefacción.
In winter, we always turn on the heating.
calentamiento
/kah-lehn-tah-myehn-toh//kalentaˈmjento/
Examples
Es importante hacer un buen calentamiento antes de jugar al fútbol.
It is important to do a good warm-up before playing soccer.
El calentamiento global afecta a todo el planeta.
Global warming affects the whole planet.
El calentamiento de la sopa tomó solo dos minutos.
The heating of the soup took only two minutes.
Making Nouns from Verbs
This word is formed by taking the verb 'calentar' (to heat) and adding '-miento' to the end. This is a common way in Spanish to turn an action into a 'thing' or a noun.
Gender Memory Aid
Words ending in '-miento' are almost always masculine, so you will always use 'el' or 'un' with 'calentamiento'.
Warm-up vs. Heater
Mistake: “Using 'calentamiento' to mean a radiator or a machine that heats a room.”
Correction: Use 'calentador' for the device and 'calentamiento' for the process or action of getting hot.
System vs. Process
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.