esfriar

Esfriar is a verb meaning to make something cold or cooler, i.e., to lower its temperature. In Portuguese, esfriar is the standard term for cooling foods, drinks, or environments, and it is commonly used in cooking, refrigeration, and climate control. In Spanish, the corresponding standard verb is enfriar; esfriar is generally considered regional, informal, or less common, and its usage varies by dialect.

Etymology and regional use are typical of Romance languages. Esfriar and enfriar derive from Latin roots connected with cold, and the difference between the forms reflects regular phonological developments in Iberian languages. In Portuguese, the form esfriar is widely accepted and taught, while in Spanish most speakers use enfriar.

Usage and examples. In Portuguese, you might hear: “É preciso esfriar o caldo antes de servir,” meaning to cool the broth before serving; “Guarde a bebida no refrigerador para esfriar.” In Spanish, a common expression is “dejar enfriar la salsa.” The notion of cooling covers physical processes such as conduction, convection, and radiation and is central to food safety, storage, and beverage preparation.

Related terms. In both languages, cooling is tied to terms like enfriamiento (Spanish) or resfriamento/recooling (Portuguese). The verb esfriar may also appear in colloquial phrases meaning to chill out or calm down, though with slightly different usage depending on dialect.