Spanish Conversation · Level 16
90 words
Spanish word
hielo
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈʝelo/
Meaning
- masculine nounice
Example
Necesito hielo para mi bebida.
I need ice for my drink.
More examples
Romper el hielo con una broma puede ayudar en una conversación.
Breaking the ice with a joke can help in conversation.
Core concept
Solid frozen water used to cool drinks and preserve food.
Common phrases
poner hielo
put ice in
romper el hielo
break the ice
sin hielo
no ice
Similar words
cubito: Small cube-shaped piece of ice that chills drinks.
hielo picado: Finely crushed ice that chills drinks quickly.
Definition in Spanish
Sólido formado por el agua al congelarse; se usa tanto para enfriar bebidas como para conservar alimentos.
Word origin
It is from Latin gelu 'frost', recorded in medieval Spanish as gelo, with routine sound changes yielding modern hielo.
Usage tips
- In drink orders, Spanish speakers say 'con hielo' to mean with ice, and use 'con cubitos de hielo' or 'con hielo picado' to request cubes or crushed ice.