What is hot? Pronunciation and usage in English

Let's break down how to use the word "hot" in English! It's a surprisingly versatile word with lots of different meanings. Here’s a breakdown categorized for clarity:

1. Temperature (Most Common)

• Describing Heat: This is the most frequent use.
  • "It's hot today!" (meaning: It's a warm temperature)
  • "The soup is hot." (meaning: It's at a high temperature)
  • "My coffee is too hot to drink." (meaning: It’s at a temperature that is uncomfortable)
  • "The sun is hot."

2. Attractive/Sexy (Figurative)

• Describing Someone Attractive: This is a very common and often (though sometimes debated) considered a slightly informal way to say someone is attractive.
  • "He's a hot guy." (meaning: he’s very attractive)
  • "She's a hot model." (meaning: she's a beautiful model)
  • "That car is hot!" (meaning: the car is stylish and attractive, sometimes implying it's fast too)

3. Popular/Trendy (Figurative)

• Describing Something Trendy or Popular:
  • "That song is hot right now." (meaning: it's very popular)
  • "This new restaurant is hot." (meaning: it's popular and everyone is talking about it)
  • "The new iPhone is hot." (referring to high demand)

4. Intense/Exciting (Figurative)

• Describing a Situation or Feeling:
  • "The party was hot!" (meaning: it was a lively, exciting party)
  • "The game was hot in the last quarter." (meaning: the game was very exciting and competitive)
  • "His anger was hot." (meaning: He was very angry)

5. As a Verb (Less Common but Important)

• To Heat Something Up:
  • "Let's heat up the leftovers."
  • “I’m going to heat my food in the microwave.”
• To Become Excited or Angry (Informal):
  • "He heated up after the criticism." (meaning: he became angry after receiving criticism)

6. Slang - “Hot” as a sexual term

• Used to describe sexual attraction: This usage is often considered more casual and can be considered impolite in some contexts.
  • "She’s hot." (meaning: she's sexually attractive) - Use with caution.

Important Notes & Nuances:

• Level of Formality: Using “hot” to describe someone's attractiveness is generally considered more casual. In formal writing or conversations, you’d want to use more descriptive adjectives like “beautiful,” “handsome,” or “attractive.”
• Context is Key: The meaning of "hot" always depends on the context. Pay attention to how it's being used in a sentence.

Resources for Further Learning:

• Merriam-Webster: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot
• Cambridge Dictionary: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/hot

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

• What kind of context are you interested in? (e.g., casual conversation, writing, a specific topic like food or fashion?)