Fire...

[Jessica]

when do I use fuego and when do I use incendio?

[Elaina]

Yo pienso que se pueden usar igual las dos.......aunque en algunas instancias se escucha mejor una que la otra. Por ejemplo,

-Hay un incendio/fuego por esa calle, tenemos que tomar una desviación.

En esta frase creo que se puede usar una o la otra.

Pero........

Una fogata tiene fuego no tiene incendio.


Maybe just what feels natural......some words are like that. If it feels good, do it!

[Jessica]

okay because in our textbook the fire in there was incendio, and a month ago I asked what fire was in Spanish (for my novel) and I was given the answer fuego

[pjt33]

Rule of thumb: if it's under control it's fuego, and if it's out of control it's incendio.

[Fazor]

Of the top of my head, I thought it was "enfuego", but looking at it, I'm probably thinking "en fuego" (on fire). I'd never heard "incendio", which to me sounds more like a bomb (because of the English "Incendiary device") Guess you learn something new every day, eh?

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by Jessica

when do I use fuego and when do I use incendio?

When you use Incendio you can use fuego.
I mean, I can give you any examples.


Hay fuego en el bosque.

Hay un incendio en el bosque.


As you can see, you can use them in the same phrase.

If you need more examples, please you don't hesitate to ask us.

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by Fazor

Of the top of my head, I thought it was "enfuego", but looking at it, I'm probably thinking "en fuego" (on fire). I'd never heard "incendio", which to me sounds more like a bomb (because of the English "Incendiary device") Guess you learn something new every day, eh?

An incendiary device is a bomb which is designed to cause a fire.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

Hay fuego en el bosque.

Hay un incendio en el bosque.


As you can see, you can use them in the same phrase.

Yes, but if, say, your trousers were on fire, and you needed help, would you shout

¡socorro! - fuego

or

¡socorro! - incendio

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@pjt:


A "fuego" is the general word for every burning that produces light and heat.

An "incendio" is specifically a fire that is burning something which was not intended for burning (a building, a forest, etc.).

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Perikles

Yes, but if, say, your trousers were on fire, and you needed help, would you shout

¡socorro! - fuego

or

¡socorro! - incendio

Neither!

[Fazor]

Originally Posted by pjt33

An incendiary device is a bomb which is designed to cause a fire.

Correcto. But that's what I would have guessed "Incendio" meant, had I not seen this thread or looked it up in a dictionary.

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by Perikles

Yes, but if, say, your trousers were on fire, and you needed help, would you shout

¡socorro! - fuego

or

¡socorro! - incendio

Jajajaa te pasas.



Not you should say, Your trousers were burned.