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The hottest period of the summer, typically occurring in July and August in the Northern Hemisphere.
En la canícula, es importante mantenerse hidratado.
During the dog days of summer, it's important to stay hydrated.
Originally derived from the Latin 'canicula' (little dog), referring to the star Sirius ('the Dog Star') which rises and sets with the sun during this period, believed to intensify the heat.
Do not translate 'canícula' as 'canicule' (French) or assume it refers to dogs. The English equivalent is a fixed phrase describing the hottest summer days.
Use 'canícula' when referring to the climatological phenomenon of extreme summer heat, not for general hot weather or heatwaves outside this period.
From Latin 'canicula' (diminutive of 'canis' meaning 'dog'), referring to Sirius, the 'Dog Star,' which rises with the sun during the hottest days of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
The term is primarily used in meteorology and general conversation in Spanish-speaking regions. It does not refer to a specific calendar date but to the climatological period of peak summer heat.