sudor frío
Lemma Details
Translation: cold sweat; clammy sweat
Part of Speech: noun phrase
Etymology: Compound of 'sudor' (sweat) and 'frío' (cold). 'Sudor' comes from Latin 'sudor, sudoris', sharing the same Indo-European root as English 'sweat'. 'Frío' derives from Latin 'frigidus' (cold), related to English 'frigid'. The combination describes the physiological response to fear, anxiety, or illness where the body produces sweat that feels cold to the touch.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 90%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Un sudor frío le recorrió la espalda cuando vio el fantasma.
A cold sweat ran down his back when he saw the ghost.
La fiebre le provocaba sudores fríos durante la noche.
The fever caused him cold sweats during the night.
Sintió un sudor frío al darse cuenta de que había olvidado su presentación.
He felt a cold sweat when he realized he had forgotten his presentation.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'sudor' as similar to 'sweat' and 'frío' as 'freezing' - together they create the uncomfortable sensation of cold sweat.
- Imagine a frightening situation where you feel 'su-door free-o' (cold sweat) running down your back.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
The phrase 'sudor frío' is commonly used in Spanish to describe the physiological response to fear, anxiety, shock, or illness. It appears frequently in literature, film, and everyday speech to convey intense emotional states or physical distress.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'sudor frío' refers to the clammy, cold sweat associated with fear or illness, 'sudor caliente' refers to the warm sweat produced during physical exertion or high temperatures.
Confused word:
El ejercicio intenso le provocó sudor caliente.
Intense exercise caused him to break out in a hot sweat.
Notes: The temperature descriptor indicates the context and cause of the sweating.
Mnemonic: Cold sweat (sudor frío) comes from cold feelings like fear; hot sweat (sudor caliente) comes from hot activities like exercise.