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Questions & Answers about Mi frente está caliente.
Why do we use estar (está) instead of ser (es) in Mi frente está caliente?
In Spanish, estar describes temporary states, locations or conditions, while ser refers to more permanent or defining characteristics. A hot forehead is a temporary physical condition (maybe you have a fever), so we say Mi frente está caliente rather than Mi frente es caliente.
Why does está have an accent mark?
The accent on está marks it as the third-person singular present of the verb estar (“he/she/it is”). Without the accent, esta is the feminine demonstrative adjective meaning this (as in esta casa “this house”).
Why isn’t there a definite article before mi frente (e.g. la mi frente)?
When you use a possessive adjective like mi, tu, su, you drop the definite article (el, la). So you always say mi frente, tu casa, su libro, not la mi frente or la tu casa.
What gender is the noun frente, and how can I tell?
Frente (“forehead”) is feminine: you would say la frente if you used an article. Nouns ending in ‑e can be either gender, so you simply memorize that frente is feminine.
Why do we use the adjective caliente instead of the noun calor?
Caliente is an adjective modifying frente (“hot forehead”). Calor is a noun meaning “heat.” You could say Tengo calor (“I’m hot”) or Siento calor en la frente (“I feel heat in my forehead”), but to directly describe the forehead you use the adjective: Mi frente está caliente.
Can I say Mi frente tiene calor instead?
No. Spanish uses tener calor impersonally to express that a person feels hot: Tengo calor (“I’m hot”). You don’t assign tener calor to a body part. To describe the forehead’s temperature you use estar + adjective, not tiene calor.
Does caliente ever have other meanings or connotations?
Yes. In many Latin American dialects, caliente can slangily mean “horny” or “aroused.” Context usually makes it clear when you’re talking about temperature versus a more informal sense.
What’s another way to say “my forehead is hot,” especially if I suspect I have a fever?
You could say Tengo fiebre (“I have a fever”) to state outright that you’re running a fever. Or Me arde la frente (“My forehead burns”) if the heat feels more like a burning sensation.