Está quente.

You’ll use Está quente when you step outside and feel the heat. It’s perfect for describing a sunny afternoon or a stuffy room. Did you just finish a workout? Está quente! Is your car baking in the sun? Está quente! You can even use it metaphorically, but we'll get to that later. For now, focus on the weather. It’s your bread and butter for hot days. Don't overthink it; just say it when it feels right.

This phrase is super flexible! You can use it in almost any situation. Talking to your best friend about a beach day? Está quente. Emailing your boss about needing to adjust the office thermostat? Está quente. It’s like the chameleon of Portuguese phrases. It adapts to your surroundings. Just be mindful of your tone. A cheerful Está quente is different from a complaining one. It’s all about the vibe you put out there.

Imagine you're texting a friend: "Hey, let's meet at the park later." Friend replies: "Can't, está quente demais!" (It's too hot!). Or you're on a travel vlog: "Olá, pessoal! Welcome to Rio de Janeiro! Today, está quente and perfect for the beach!" Even in a slightly more formal setting, like a casual chat with a colleague: "Did you have a good weekend?" "Sim, mas está quente, então fiquei mais em casa." (Yes, but it's hot, so I stayed home more.) See? It fits everywhere.

Use Está quente when the temperature is genuinely high. When you feel the sun intensely. When your ice cream is melting faster than you can eat it. When you’re sweating just standing still. It’s for those days where you’re looking for the nearest air-conditioned spot. Think summer days, tropical vacations, or even a surprisingly warm autumn afternoon. If you have to ask yourself, "Is it hot?", the answer is probably Está quente.

Don't use Está quente if it's just mildly warm or pleasant. If the temperature is around 20-25°C (68-77°F) and comfortable, you'd say something else, like Está agradável (It's pleasant) or Está bom tempo (The weather is good). Using Está quente for a cool spring day would be like wearing a snowsuit in July – confusing and a bit silly. Save it for when the heat is truly on. It’s not for a light breeze; it’s for a furnace.

Learners sometimes forget the Está part and just say Quente. While people might understand, it's grammatically incomplete. Another common slip is using it for people. You wouldn't say Ele está quente to mean he's attractive; that's a whole different ballgame (and potentially awkward!). Stick to the weather unless you're *very* sure of the context.

In Brazil, you might hear Tá quente, which is a super casual, contracted form of Está quente. It's like saying "It's hot" instead of "It is hot." Very common in texts and informal chats. In Portugal, Está calor is also very common and means the same thing – it's hot. Calor specifically refers to heat, while quente can mean hot in other contexts too (like hot food). So, Está calor is perhaps more precise for weather.

• What's the literal meaning? It means 'is hot'.
• Is it only for weather? Mostly, but can be metaphorical.
• Can I say Calor instead? Yes, Está calor is common too.
• Is it formal or informal? It's quite neutral.
• What if it's just warm? Use agradável or bom tempo.
• How to make it stronger? Add demais (too much) or muito (very).