frío
Lemma Details
Translation: cold; chilly; cool; frigid
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: From Latin 'frigidus' (cold, frigid), which derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *srig- (cold). This same Latin root gives us English words like 'frigid', 'refrigerator', and 'refrigerate'. The phonetic evolution from Latin 'frigidus' to Spanish 'frío' involved the loss of the intervocalic 'g' and the reduction of the unstressed syllable, a common pattern in Spanish evolution from Latin.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 60%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of a 'freezer' - both start with 'fr' and relate to cold.
- Sounds like 'freeze-o' - something that makes things cold.
- Related to English 'frigid' - both describe something very cold.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, especially those with warmer climates, 'frío' can be used to describe temperatures that English speakers might consider mild. The perception of cold is relative to the typical climate of a region. In many Latin American countries, people might describe a 60°F (15°C) day as 'frío', while in northern countries this might be considered mild.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'frío' means 'cold', 'fresco' means 'cool' or 'fresh'. 'Fresco' typically describes a mild coolness that is pleasant, while 'frío' describes a more intense cold sensation that might be uncomfortable.
Notes: In some contexts, these words can be interchangeable, but 'frío' generally indicates a lower temperature than 'fresco'.
Mnemonic: 'Fresco' sounds like 'fresh' in English, which often implies a pleasant coolness, while 'frío' sounds harsher, like 'freeze'.
Explanation: Despite starting with the same letters, 'frío' (cold) and 'frivolidad' (frivolity) are completely unrelated in meaning. 'Frivolidad' refers to a lack of seriousness or importance.
Confused word:
No soporto su frivolidad ante problemas serios.
I can't stand his frivolity regarding serious problems.
Notes: The similarity is purely coincidental; they come from different Latin roots.
Mnemonic: Think of 'frivolidad' as related to English 'frivolous' - both about being unserious, not about temperature.