Italian · Emotions & Descriptions
"Cold" in Italian: freddo/a
freddo/a
Cold in Italian is freddo (FREHD-doh) masculine and fredda feminine. For weather say fa freddo. Ho freddo means I feel cold; una bibita fredda is a cold drink.
Winter morning outside
Oggi fa freddo: metti la sciarpa.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce freddo/a
Say it
FREHD-doh
/ˈfred.do/
Freddo stresses FREHD: FREHD-doh. The double d is held briefly. Fredda is FREHD-dah.
"Cold" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| freddo / fredda | cold (adj.) Agrees with the noun. | Agrees with the noun. |
| fa freddo | it's cold (weather) Standard outdoor comment. | Standard outdoor comment. |
| ho freddo | I'm cold How you feel. | How you feel. |
| freddo cane | freezing cold Informal intensifier. | Informal intensifier. |
How to use freddo/a in real life
- 1Winter morning outside
Oggi fa freddo: metti la sciarpa.
It's cold today: put on your scarf.
Fa freddo for weather.
- 2Ordering a drink
Vorrei una birra fredda, per favore.
I'd like a cold beer, please.
Fredda agrees with birra.
- 3In an underheated room
Ho freddo: alziamo un po' il riscaldamento?
I'm cold—shall we turn the heating up a bit?
Ho freddo = I feel cold.
Mistakes English speakers make with freddo/a
Incorrect: Sono freddo.
Correct: Ho freddo.
Feeling cold uses avere: ho freddo, not sono freddo (which sounds like your personality is cold).
Incorrect: Fa fredda oggi.
Correct: Fa freddo oggi.
The weather phrase is fixed as fa freddo.
Good to know
Italians complain about freddo indoors as much as outside—stone buildings and late heating seasons are common topics. At the table, vino freddo or acqua fredda is a request for chilled drinks, while a cold personality is still freddo in a figurative sense.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Waiting for a night bus in January
ChatPal
Fa un freddo cane stasera.
It's freezing cold tonight.
You
Sì, ho freddo alle mani.
Yes, my hands are cold.
ChatPal
Prendiamo un tè caldo, non una bibita fredda.
Let's get hot tea, not a cold drink.
You
D'accordo: niente di freddo per me.
Agreed: nothing cold for me.
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 Italian
How do I say it's cold outside?
Fa freddo. Add molto for very cold.
How do I say I am cold?
Ho freddo—not sono freddo.
When do I use fredda?
With feminine nouns: acqua fredda, stanza fredda.
What is un raffreddore?
A head cold (illness)—related word, different from weather freddo.
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
Keep reading
- How to Learn Italian Fast and Speak with ConfidenceLearn how to learn Italian with a clear roadmap, speaking-first tactics and daily habits that turn basics into real conversation confidence.
- Translate Hello in Italian with ConfidenceLearn how to translate hello in Italian with context, pronunciation, and practice prompts. Master ciao, buongiorno, buonasera, and salve for real conversations.
