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I dont understand the phrase "Hace calor"

I dont understand the phrase "Hace calor"

1
vote

I don't understand the phrase "Hace calor" or "Hace frio" for example. I t doesn't make sense to me. As I know the word "Hace" mean -"to do". Soo, why it's makes sense to say "do heat" or "do cold? Thank you!

34695 views
updated Apr 1, 2014
edited by pacofinkler
posted by Gigantesco
Edited your punctuation and spelling, welcome to the forum - pacofinkler, Apr 28, 2011
Isn't it kind of rude to edit someone else's posts?? Anyways, how can you even do that? Is there a certain amount of points you need? - leenearene3, Apr 28, 2011
There is, but I do not consider it rude to edit for the better as long as it is not abused. - llamalovers000, Apr 1, 2014

6 Answers

6
votes

Hi.

Have a look at this: 1.14 - Weather and the Verb Hacer

And don't translate everything you see. You cannot always catch the literal equality. wink

updated Apr 28, 2011
posted by culé
5
votes

It's not really all that odd. In English, we say "it IS cold." In Spanish, we say "it IS MAKING cold." If anything, it makes you wonder, "What is this 'it?'" smile

updated Apr 1, 2014
edited by babs_irish
posted by babs_irish
5
votes

You don't understand what "Hace calor" means? Go to Seville, Spain, in July - August, and when you reach 53º C (128º F) and you hear people use it, even if you don't speak any Spanish, you'll understand it... perfectly!! You'll never forget it, actually.

That's what teachers call to learn through context, as oppose to attempt literal translations. It works so much better!!!

updated Apr 1, 2014
edited by lazarus1907
posted by lazarus1907
Jejejeje - culé, Apr 28, 2011
que listo eres!! - spanish-at-heart, Apr 28, 2011
saying "hace calor" when you have 53º C is inadequate.:) - Deanski, Apr 29, 2011
4
votes

Using the verb 'hacer' (to make or to do) for weather expressions is an idiom, it completely makes sense to a spanish speaker but it sounds funny to an english speaker.

In english if you say "it makes hot" it doesn't make much sense It's the same sort of thing in spanish, if you say "está calor hoy" it doesn't make much sense when talking about weather.

Likewise, if you want to say that you are cold, you would use 'tener' (to have) instead of 'estar' Tengo calor - I am hot You wouldn't say "I have hot" in english, this doesn't make sense. It also doesn't make much sense to say "estoy calor"

'Tener' is used on quite a few other expressions like this, with words like frío, dolor, hambre, sed, sueño

updated Jul 5, 2014
posted by spanish-at-heart
2
votes

As I understand it (and I am up for correction) hace is referring to "it", as in the weather.

So it's like saying the weather does heat or cold. In English we'd say "It (the weather) is hot/cold".

updated Apr 1, 2014
edited by NickDan
posted by NickDan
Hacer ''makes'' heat ''calor o frio'' cold - pacofinkler, Apr 28, 2011
Check. Thanks. - NickDan, Apr 28, 2011
1
vote
updated Apr 1, 2014
posted by Americanus
hehehe When you post you can put the name of the thing you're linking to so people will use it. :) - Findy, Apr 1, 2014
I enjoy watching Seseme Street in Spanish - Plaza Sésamo! Cute link with the Spanglish. :) Don't forget to fill in your profile, and welcome to SD! - Findy, Apr 1, 2014