cool
Informal for very good, interesting, impressive, or fashionable.
EXAMPLE
Wow, dein neues Fahrrad ist echt cool!
Wow, your new bike is really cool!
cool
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Meanings
cool
Informal for calm, composed, and unflustered, especially in a stressful situation.
EXAMPLE
Obwohl alle in Panik waren, blieb sie total cool.
Even though everyone was panicking, she stayed totally cool.
cool
Pleasantly cool, refreshing. This meaning is less common and closer to the English original.
EXAMPLE
An heißen Tagen mag ich am liebsten einen coolen Drink im Schatten.
On hot days, I like a cool drink in the shade best.
Usage tips
Register: informal language
The word 'cool' comes from English and belongs to informal language. It is very common in everyday life, but should be avoided in formal texts or very formal conversations.
EXAMPLE
Dein Vortrag war echt cool, gut gemacht!
Your presentation was really cool, well done!
Context clues
You can recognize the meaning of 'cool' from the context. If it refers to a thing or idea, it means 'toll' (great/cool) (m01). If it describes a person's behavior in a stressful situation, it means 'gelassen' (calm/composed) (m02).
EXAMPLE
Ein Auto, das von alleine parkt? Das ist ja cool!
A car that parks by itself? That's really cool!
Fixed expression
In the meaning 'gelassen' (calm/composed), the phrase 'cool bleiben' (to stay cool) is very common. It is often used as advice or an instruction to remain calm.
EXAMPLE
Bleib cool, wir finden eine Lösung für das Problem.
Stay cool, we'll find a solution to the problem.
Compare with
cool vs toll
great / mad
Toll and cool can both express a positive evaluation. Toll expresses general, open enthusiasm, whereas cool often sounds more casual and youthful and can additionally emphasize that something is modern or impressive.
cool
Mein Freund findet den neuen Skateboardtrick cool.
My friend thinks the new skateboard trick is cool.
toll
Meine Mutter findet den neuen Skateboardtrick toll.
My mother thinks the new skateboard trick is great.
In real life
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