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"Picante" is an adjective which is often translated as "spicy", and "calor" is a noun which is often translated as "heat". Learn more about the difference between "picante" and "calor" below.
picante(
pee
-
kahn
-
teh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
4. (culinary)
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Me encanta la comida con un montón de picante.I love really spicy food.
Este curry tiene demasiado picante para mí.This curry's far too hot for me.
5. (spicy sauce) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
6. (figurative) (energy)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. zip (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Al protagonista de la comedia le falta picante.The lead in the play needs a bit more zip.
el calor(
kah
-
lohr
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
a. heat
No es el calor, sino la humedad la que me afecta mucho.It's not the heat, but rather the humidity that really affects me.
b. warmth
No hay nada que me guste más que tirarme en la playa y disfrutar del calor del sol.There's nothing I like to do more than stretch out on the beach and enjoy the warmth of the sun.
2. (affection)
a. warmth
Nuestros amigos nos acogieron con tal calor que nos sentimos muy a gusto en su casa.Our friends welcomed us with such warmth that we felt very at home in their house.
los calores
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
3. (menopause)
a. hot flashes (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Los calores son una de las cosas que sufren las mujeres en la menopausia.Hot flashes are one of the things that women go through during menopause.
b. hot flushes (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Mi madre siempre tiene calores por la noche.My mother always has hot flushes at night.
