German · Emotions & Descriptions
"Cold" in German: kalt
kalt
Cold in German is kalt. Weather and objects use Es ist kalt or Die Suppe ist kalt. For your body say Mir ist kalt. A head cold is eine Erkältung.
Winter morning
Draußen ist es richtig kalt.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce kalt
Say it
KALT
/kalt/
KALT. Short a. Clear final t.
"Cold" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| kalt | cold Temperature. | Temperature. |
| Mir ist kalt. | I feel cold. Body feeling. | Body feeling. |
| kaltes Wetter | cold weather Weather talk. | Weather talk. |
| Erkältung | a cold (illness) Different noun. | Different noun. |
How to use kalt in real life
- 1Winter morning
Draußen ist es richtig kalt.
It's really cold outside.
Es ist kalt for weather.
- 2Food complaint
Meine Pizza ist schon kalt.
My pizza is already cold.
Food temperature.
- 3Borrowing a jacket
Mir ist kalt. Hast du eine Jacke?
I feel cold. Do you have a jacket?
Mir ist kalt, not Ich bin kalt.
Mistakes English speakers make with kalt
Incorrect: Ich bin kalt. (I feel cold)
Correct: Mir ist kalt.
Ich bin kalt can sound odd or mean you are an unfriendly person. Use Mir ist kalt.
Incorrect: Ich habe kalt.
Correct: Mir ist kalt. / Ich habe eine Erkältung.
Feeling cold is Mir ist kalt. Illness is Erkältung.
Good to know
Germans often keep indoor heating moderate and dress in layers. You will hear Zieh dich warm an before someone leaves. Kalt can also describe an unfriendly tone: eine kalte Antwort.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Waiting at a tram stop
ChatPal
Brr, ist das kalt heute.
Brr, it's cold today.
You
Mir ist auch kalt. Wann kommt die Bahn?
I feel cold too. When is the tram coming?
ChatPal
In drei Minuten. Stell dich hinter mich.
In three minutes. Stand behind me.
You
Danke. Der Wind macht alles kälter.
Thanks. The wind makes everything colder.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Cold" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Cold" in German
How do you say I feel cold?
Mir ist kalt.
How do you say I have a cold?
Ich habe eine Erkältung.
What is the opposite of kalt?
Heiß or warm, depending on degree.
How do you say cold drink?
Ein kaltes Getränk.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
