kalt
cold
Having a low temperature; the opposite of warm or hot.
EXAMPLE
Zieh dir eine dicke Jacke an, es ist heute sehr kalt draußen.
Put on a thick jacket; it's very cold outside today.
kalt
cold
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Meanings
kalt
cold
In a figurative sense: emotionless, distant, or unfriendly in behavior toward other people.
EXAMPLE
Seine Reaktion auf meine Entschuldigung war kurz und kalt.
His reaction to my apology was brief and cold.
kalt
cold
Refers to food or drinks that have not been heated or cooked and are served at a low temperature.
EXAMPLE
An heißen Tagen esse ich am liebsten einen kalten Salat.
On hot days, I prefer to eat a cold salad.
jemanden kalt lassen
to leave someone cold
To not touch or affect a person emotionally; to be a matter of indifference to them.
EXAMPLE
Die traurige Geschichte im Film hat ihn völlig kalt gelassen.
The sad story in the film left him completely cold.
kalte Füße bekommen
to get cold feet
To suddenly become afraid or doubtful shortly before an important event or decision and want to back out.
EXAMPLE
Er wollte eigentlich auswandern, hat aber im letzten Moment kalte Füße bekommen.
He had actually wanted to emigrate, but he got cold feet at the last moment.
Usage tips
Common mistake
To express that you feel cold, you say 'Mir ist kalt' (I am cold / I feel cold). The person is in the dative here. The sentence 'Ich bin kalt' would mean that the person's body temperature is low.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du das Fenster schließen? Mir ist kalt.
Can you close the window? I'm cold.
Word family
The adjective 'kalt' (cold) is the basis for the noun 'die Kälte' (the cold). While 'kalt' describes a quality, 'die Kälte' refers to the state of low temperature itself.
EXAMPLE
Wegen der extremen Kälte fiel die Schule aus.
Because of the extreme cold, school was canceled.
Context clue
The meaning of 'kalt' (cold) depends strongly on the context. In connection with weather or objects, it means low temperature. In connection with people, looks, or reactions, it means emotionless or distant.
EXAMPLE
Das Wasser im See ist noch sehr kalt.
The water in the lake is still very cold.
In the context of food
When 'kalt' (cold) describes food, it is often used in fixed combinations. Examples include 'kaltes Buffet' (cold buffet), 'kalte Platte' (a platter with cold cuts, cheese, etc.), or 'kalter Hund' (a cake).
EXAMPLE
Für die Party bereiten wir ein kaltes Buffet vor.
We're preparing a cold buffet for the party.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'jemanden kalt lassen' (to leave someone cold) has a fixed structure. The thing that does not trigger any emotions is the subject, and the person who remains unaffected is in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Seine Kritik lässt mich völlig kalt.
His criticism leaves me completely cold.
Fixed expression
The expression 'kalte Füße bekommen' (to get cold feet) is a fixed idiom. The verb is 'bekommen' (to get), and the person who becomes afraid is the subject of the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Kurz vor der Hochzeit hat sie kalte Füße bekommen.
Shortly before the wedding, she got cold feet.
Compare with
kalt vs kühl
cool
Kühl and kalt both describe a low temperature. Kühl usually sounds milder and can even be pleasant, while kalt generally expresses stronger or unpleasant cold. Kühl is therefore suitable for a slight drop in temperature, while kalt is more appropriate when the cold is clearly felt.
kalt
Am Abend ist die Luft so kalt, dass wir Jacken brauchen.
The air is so cold in the evening that we need jackets.
kühl
Am Morgen ist die Luft angenehm kühl, und wir brauchen keine Jacken.
The air is pleasantly cool in the morning, and we don’t need jackets.
In real life
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