Spanish · Emotions & Descriptions
"Hot" in Spanish: caliente
caliente
Hot to the touch is caliente. Say el café está caliente or el agua caliente. For hot weather, prefer hace calor, not estoy caliente—that phrase can sound sexual.
How to pronounce caliente: audio and sound guideWarning about a plate
Cuidado, el plato está caliente.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce caliente
Say it
kah-LYEN-teh
/kaˈljente/
kah-LYEN-teh. Stress LYEN. The ie in caliente glides quickly.
"Hot" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| caliente | hot (temperature of things) Food, drinks, water, surfaces. | Food, drinks, water, surfaces. |
| hace calor | it's hot (weather) Default for hot days outdoors. | Default for hot days outdoors. |
| picante | spicy hot Chile heat, not temperature. Not a synonym of caliente. | Chile heat, not temperature. Not a synonym of caliente. |
| tibio / tibia | lukewarm Warm but not fully caliente. | Warm but not fully caliente. |
How to use caliente in real life
- 1Warning about a plate
Cuidado, el plato está caliente.
Careful, the plate is hot.
Caliente describes the plate temperature.
- 2Ordering coffee
¿El café está bien caliente?
Is the coffee nice and hot?
Bien caliente means properly hot.
- 3Kitchen talk
Necesito agua caliente para el té.
I need hot water for the tea.
Agua caliente is a set useful pair.
Mistakes English speakers make with caliente
Incorrect: Estoy caliente. (meaning the weather)
Correct: Hace calor. / Tengo calor.
For weather use hace calor. Estoy caliente can sound sexual, not like caliente coffee.
Incorrect: La sopa es caliente siempre.
Correct: La sopa está caliente.
Temperature of food usually takes estar caliente, not ser.
Good to know
Good to knowBeginners often mix caliente with spicy: ask if food is picante for chile heat. For weather, hace calor is the safe line. Save caliente for objects and drinks.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Serving soup at home
ChatPal
La sopa está muy caliente todavía.
The soup is still very hot.
You
Perfecto. Me gusta caliente, no tibia.
Perfect. I like it hot, not lukewarm.
ChatPal
Espera un minuto si quema.
Wait a minute if it burns.
You
Sí. Soplo un poco primero.
Yes. I'll blow on it first.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Hot" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Hot" in Spanish
Does caliente change for gender?
Not in the singular. El té caliente, la sopa caliente. Plural: calientes.
How do I say the weather is hot?
Hace calor or Tengo calor. Avoid estoy caliente for weather.
Is caliente the same as picante?
No. Caliente is temperature. Picante is spicy heat from chile.
How do you pronounce caliente?
kah-LYEN-teh with stress on LYEN.
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