guerra fría
Lemma Details
Translation: Cold War
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: Compound term from 'guerra' (war) and 'fría' (cold). 'Guerra' derives from Germanic 'werra' (conflict), which entered Romance languages and evolved into Spanish 'guerra', Italian 'guerra', and French 'guerre'. 'Fría' comes from Latin 'frigidus' (cold), related to English 'frigid'. The term 'guerra fría' is a calque (direct translation) of the English term 'Cold War', coined to describe the geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and Western powers after World War II, characterized by political and economic conflicts rather than direct military confrontation.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 80%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
La guerra fría entre Estados Unidos y la Unión Soviética duró más de cuatro décadas.
The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union lasted more than four decades.
Durante la guerra fría, muchos países latinoamericanos se convirtieron en campos de batalla por influencia.
During the Cold War, many Latin American countries became battlegrounds for influence.
El fin de la guerra fría marcó un cambio fundamental en las relaciones internacionales.
The end of the Cold War marked a fundamental change in international relations.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'guerra' (war) with ice ('fría' = cold) instead of fire – a conflict fought with chilly diplomatic relations rather than hot weapons.
- Imagine two opponents giving each other the 'cold shoulder' ('hombro frío') instead of fighting directly – that's the essence of the Cold War.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
The term 'guerra fría' is deeply embedded in Spanish historical and political discourse. While it primarily refers to the post-WWII conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union (1947-1991), it's frequently used in educational contexts, media, and political discussions. In Spanish-speaking countries, particularly those in Latin America, the Cold War had significant impacts as many became proxy battlegrounds for the superpowers' influence, with the US supporting right-wing governments and the USSR backing leftist movements. This historical period continues to influence political discourse and international relations terminology in Spanish-speaking countries.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Guerra fría' refers to the ideological conflict between superpowers without direct military confrontation, while 'guerra mundial' (World War) refers to global armed conflicts with direct military engagement between multiple nations.
Confused word:
La Segunda Guerra Mundial terminó en 1945 con la rendición de Japón.
World War II ended in 1945 with Japan's surrender.
Notes: The Cold War followed World War II chronologically, which can sometimes cause confusion in historical discussions.
Mnemonic: Think: 'fría' (cold) means no hot fighting, while 'mundial' means the whole world actively fighting.
Explanation: 'Guerra fría' describes international tension between superpowers, while 'guerra civil' (civil war) refers to armed conflict between groups within the same country.
Notes: Many civil wars during the Cold War period were proxy conflicts influenced by Cold War dynamics.
Mnemonic: 'Civil' means within one country's citizens; 'fría' suggests international tension without direct combat.