Significado
Indicates that the temperature is high.
Contexto cultural
In the south of Spain, temperatures can exceed 45°C. The phrase 'la calor' (feminine) is frequently heard colloquially, though 'el calor' is the standard. It's often used to emphasize the intensity of the heat. In northern Mexico, 'hace un calorón' is a common augmentative form used to describe the intense, dry desert heat. People often avoid the sun entirely between 12 PM and 4 PM. In the Caribbean, heat is almost always accompanied by high humidity. People might say 'hace un calor húmedo' or 'está pegajoso' (it's sticky) to describe the specific sensation. In Buenos Aires, the 'humedad' is the main complaint. You will often hear 'No es el calor, es la humedad' (It's not the heat, it's the humidity) as a standard response to 'hace calor'.
The 'Mucho' Rule
Always use 'mucho' with 'hace calor'. If you say 'muy calor', people will understand you, but it sounds very 'gringo'.
Avoid 'Soy caliente'
This is a common mistake that can lead to embarrassing misunderstandings, as it implies sexual arousal rather than feeling hot from the sun.
Significado
Indicates that the temperature is high.
The 'Mucho' Rule
Always use 'mucho' with 'hace calor'. If you say 'muy calor', people will understand you, but it sounds very 'gringo'.
Avoid 'Soy caliente'
This is a common mistake that can lead to embarrassing misunderstandings, as it implies sexual arousal rather than feeling hot from the sun.
Use 'Qué'
To sound like a native, use '¡Qué calor!' instead of 'Hace mucho calor' when you are surprised by the temperature.
The Weather Icebreaker
In Spain, complaining about the heat is the most common way to start a conversation with a stranger in an elevator or a shop.
Teste-se
Choose the correct way to say 'It is very hot today'.
Hoy _______ mucho calor.
We use 'hace' for weather conditions involving nouns like 'calor'.
Complete the sentence to say 'I am hot' (feeling the heat).
Yo _______ calor.
To express personal physical sensation, Spanish uses 'tener' (to have).
Complete the dialogue.
A: ¿Quieres ir a caminar? B: No, gracias. _______ mucho calor fuera.
The present tense 'hace' is used to describe the current weather.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at a restaurant and the soup is burning your tongue.
Objects and food use 'estar caliente', not 'hace calor'.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Hacer vs. Tener vs. Estar
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosHoy _______ mucho calor.
We use 'hace' for weather conditions involving nouns like 'calor'.
Yo _______ calor.
To express personal physical sensation, Spanish uses 'tener' (to have).
A: ¿Quieres ir a caminar? B: No, gracias. _______ mucho calor fuera.
The present tense 'hace' is used to describe the current weather.
You are at a restaurant and the soup is burning your tongue.
Objects and food use 'estar caliente', not 'hace calor'.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasIt's redundant. Just say 'Hace calor'. The 'hace' already implies the weather/environment.
It is masculine (el calor). You might hear 'la calor' in some regions, but as a learner, you should always use 'el calor'.
You can say 'Está empezando a hacer calor' or 'Se está poniendo caluroso'.
'Calor' is the noun (heat), and 'caliente' is the adjective (hot). 'Hace calor' uses the noun.
Yes, because a sauna is an environment. 'Hace mucho calor en la sauna'.
Because Spanish uses 'hacer' for weather nouns (heat, cold, wind, sun). 'Estar' is for adjectives.
Use 'Hace demasiado calor'.
Yes, it is universal across all 21 Spanish-speaking countries.
Yes: 'Hacía calor' (description) or 'Hizo calor' (specific event).
It's a specific type of 'hace calor' that is humid and stifling, often before a storm.
Frases relacionadas
hace frío
contrastIt is cold
hace sol
similarIt is sunny
hace buen tiempo
similarThe weather is nice
tener calor
builds onTo feel hot
estar caliente
specialized formTo be hot (to the touch)
