Mi hermana cogió un resfriado porque salió sin abrigo en pleno invierno.

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Breakdown of Mi hermana cogió un resfriado porque salió sin abrigo en pleno invierno.

• en: in
• mi: my
• salir: to go out
• porque: because
• ella: she
• la hermana: the sister
• el invierno: the winter
• sin: without
• coger: to catch
• el resfriado: the cold
• el abrigo: the coat
• pleno: middle of

Questions & Answers about Mi hermana cogió un resfriado porque salió sin abrigo en pleno invierno.

Why do we use the verb coger here instead of something like tomar?

In Spain, coger is commonly used to mean to catch in phrases like coger un resfriado (“to catch a cold”). While tomar can also mean “to take,” it’s more common to say coger un resfriado when talking about catching a cold in Spain.

Does resfriado just mean a simple cold, or can it refer to other illnesses?

Resfriado typically refers to a common cold. It’s not usually used for more serious illnesses like the flu. If someone says they have a resfriado, they mean they have a cold with symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, or a sore throat.

What does en pleno invierno mean in this sentence?

En pleno invierno literally translates to “in the middle of winter.” It emphasizes that it was the heart of winter, highlighting how cold it was and why not wearing a coat was a particularly bad idea.

Is it common to say sin abrigo to mean “without a coat”?

Yes, sin abrigo is a straightforward way of saying “without a coat.” You could also specify the type of coat or jacket, such as sin chaqueta (“without a jacket”), but sin abrigo is quite standard.

Why is salió used here instead of se fue?

Salió means “she went out” or “she left (the house),” focusing on the action of stepping outside. Se fue often translates more directly to “she left” (a place or situation) without necessarily emphasizing going outdoors. In this context, salió clarifies that she went outside into the winter cold.