Caliente or calor?

Question

Can anyone tell me when to use one or the other? Thank you

Answer 1

Caliente means hot (adjective). Calor means heat (noun).

It is confusing, because in Spanish calor is used in these phrases:

"Tengo calor" (I am hot or literally "I have heat.") "Hace calor" (It is hot or literally "There is heat.")

Caliente, on the other hand, is used to describe things.

Por ejemplo, "agua caliente" is hot water.

MM, there is abit more to this one, just as there is in English. - annierats, Nov 20, 2011

Answer 2

I asked the question why "tengo" and "estoy" were interchangeable ie tengo calor ( I am hot ) or estoy enferma ( I am sick ).

The difference is that using tener requires the noun form of the word and estar requires the adjective form. Note that this doesn´t work with all words because many times the word going from noun to adjective will change its meaning, ie: "Tengo calor" (I am hot), "Estoy caliente" (I want to have sex).

Where this does work, without necessarily changing meaning is, ie: "Tengo frío" (I am cold) "Estoy resfriado" (I am chilled or have a cold), or "Tengo hambre" "Estoy habriento" (I am hungry). Unfortunately, the words with which you can do this are a matter of memorization.

Answer 3

Mira esa chica. Ella es caliente.

Yes, I get this one...Take care! - annierats, Nov 20, 2011

Answer 4

Mi amiga es muy calurosa, siempre tiene calor, ella sufre en el verano.

Mi amiga es muy caliente.....(por favor dame su número de teléfono!)

She is a warm person = ella es muy cariñosa/cálida.

Thank you chileno, a most useful explanation, I had better pass on that number.. - annierats, Nov 21, 2011

Hey! What are friends for! ;) - chileno, Nov 21, 2011

Answer 5

My response to the original question: It depends on what you want to say.

Calor - Environmental temperature : hace calor afuera --> it's hot outside - Body temperature: tener calor: tengo calor --> i'm hot (my body is hot)

Caliente - A substance is hot: la arena en la playa está caliente (the sand at the beach is hot) la agua está caliente (the water is hot)

• People: el chico está caliente (the guy is sexy) estoy caliente (i'm horny)

de adonde eres? porque eso es un anglicismo. - chileno, Nov 20, 2011

Answer 6

Take a little care with caliente.

Una mujer caliente can be interpreted in different ways. If I put in an illustration I will be sent to the icy waters of Dunce's Corner so I will leave you to work it out for yourself.

See chilenos answer. - annierats, Nov 20, 2011

Answer 7

annierats:

You mean in English, right? Because in Spanish it can only be interpreted in one way

Thank you chileno, in English he meaning can differl. Sometimes, it can be I'm hot ( too warm) , or she is HOT.. - annierats, Nov 20, 2011

Sorry about the typos. Too warm is the more common interpretation. Or used to be, anyway. - annierats, Nov 20, 2011

Answer 8

hace calor. Aguascalientes (state in mexico)

Answer 9

David:

I asked the question why "tengo" and "estoy" were interchangeable....I was told that they were not interchangeable by a responder on this site.

Your question yesterday was "Are Usted and Tengo" interchangeable?" That's not even close to the subject at hand.

I told you on that thread that some phrases use "tengo (calor, sed, hambre)" and some phrases use "estoy (feliz, cansado, triste).

Answer 10

Now I am really confused, based on your question and the response.

I asked the question why "tengo" and "estoy" were interchangeable ie tengo calor ( I am hot ) or estoy enferma ( I am sick ).

This something that Rosetta Stone teaches in there Spanish Latin course. I have a Mexican amigo at the gym and he says they are interchangeable.

I would agree that this confusing since Tener and Estar are totally different verbs.

I was told that they were not interchangeable by a responder on this site.

While I have decided not use tengo in that context in the future.

Still .............. What gives ??????

Answer 11

Chileno:

I thought ' Mi amiga es una mujer abierta y caliente, una mujer muy simpática' might be possible?

Meaning 'she is a nice, open and warm( hearted) person'?

I take your word for it, if this creates a totally different meaning. Luckily I've never said anything like this but it's best to be prepared. I just have endless peculiar converstions with Venezuelan animals without undertanding anything at all!