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frialdad

coldness

noun fryahl-DAHD Rare

Origin: From frío (cold, from Latin 'frigidus') + the suffix '-dad'.

Also means

indifference

Usage Note

Frialdad is most often used in a figurative sense — the emotional coldness or indifference of a person's manner — rather than literal cold temperature, for which frío is used. Trató la noticia con frialdad means 'she received the news with cold detachment.' The word is a close synonym of indiferencia and distanciamiento in emotional contexts. Its opposite in this figurative register is calidez (warmth).

Examples

"Me sorprendió la frialdad con que respondió a la pregunta."

Natural Translation

I was surprised by the coldness with which he answered the question.

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