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"Enfriarse" is a pronominal verb which is often translated as "to get cold", and "refrescarse" is a pronominal verb which is often translated as "to cool down". Learn more about the difference between "enfriarse" and "refrescarse" below.
enfriarse(
ehn
-
fryahr
-
seh
)A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
b. to go cold
El puré de lentejas se enfrió y ya no sabía tan bien.The lentil soup went cold and didn't taste as good.
c. to cool down
Ahora me puedo tomar el té porque ya se enfrió.I can drink the tea now because it has cooled down.
a. to cool
Nuestra amistad nunca se enfrió a pesar de los años que pasamos sin vernos.Our friendship never cooled despite the years we went without seeing each other.
b. to cool off
Terminamos porque nuestra pasión se enfrió.We broke up because our passion cooled off.
a. to catch a cold
Mi sobrina no fue hoy al colegio porque se enfrió.My niece didn't go to school today because she caught a cold.
5. (colloquial) (to die) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to drop dead (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Le dio un paro cardiaco y se enfrió instantáneamente.She had a heart attack and dropped dead instantaneously.
b. to croak (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Dijo sus últimas palabras y se enfrió.He said his last words and croaked.
enfriar
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
c. to chill
Si enfrías el vino en el congelador, no lo dejes más de media hora.If you chill the wine in the freezer, don't leave it there for more than half an hour.
8. (colloquial) (to kill) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to bump off (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Seguro que la mafia enfrió al soplón.The mob bumped off the snitch for sure.
b. to croak (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Intentó engañarles y lo enfriaron.He tried to fool them and they croaked him.
c. to ice (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
Alguien enfrió a una mujer en un callejón.Someone iced a woman in an alley.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to cool
La nevera enfría demasiado y congela todo lo que está adentro.The fridge cools too much and freezes everything inside it.
b. to get cold
Ya he puesto el vino blanco en la nevera a enfriar.I've already put the white wine in the fridge to get cold.
refrescarse(
rreh
-
frehs
-
kahr
-
seh
)A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to cool down
Tengo calor y estoy sudado, así que voy a tomar una ducha para refrescarme.I'm hot and sweaty, so I'm going to take a shower to cool down.
En verano, a Sara le gusta ir a la playa para poder refrescarse en el mar.In the summer, Sara likes to go to the beach so she can cool down in the ocean.
b. to cool off
La única forma de sobrevivir en agosto en Madrid es refrescándote con aire acondicionado.The only way you can survive in August in Madrid is cooling off with air conditioning.
c. to get a breath of fresh air
Hacía calor y necesitaba refrescarme, así que decidí dar un paseo por el parque.It was hot and I needed to get a breath of fresh air, so I decided to take a walk in the park.
2. (to wash up)
a. to freshen up
Como la cita es en una hora, tengo que refrescarme y vestirme.Now that my date is in an hour, I have to freshen up and get dressed.
3. (to drink)
a. to have a drink
¿Por qué no vienes a mi casa a refrescarte y luego a comer algo?Why don't you come to my place to have a drink and then eat something?
refrescar
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to cool
Mario metió las cervezas en la nevera para refrescarlas.Mario put the beers in the fridge to cool them.
5. (figurative) (to study up on)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. to brush up on
¿Me puedes refrescar las fórmulas de física para el examen final?Can you help me brush up on the physics formulas for the final exam?
An impersonal verb is a verb with no apparent subject (e.g., Llueve en España.).
6. (weather)
a. to cool down
Después de verano empieza a refrescar y necesitas ponerte una chaqueta.After summer it starts to cool down and you need to wear a jacket.
b. to get cooler
Deberías llevar pantalón largo por si después refresca.You should wear long pants in case it gets cooler later.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
