01
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
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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 heiß
hot
'heiß' and 'kalt' are opposites when talking about temperature. 'heiß' is used for something with a high temperature that feels very warm or can even be dangerous. 'kalt' is used for something with a low temperature. This contrast is important in many everyday situations, for example with drinks, food, water, or weather. So you say 'heißer Tee' (hot tea) when the tea is very warm, and 'kaltes Wasser' (cold water) when the water has a low temperature.
kalt
Nach dem Training trinkt sie ein kaltes Wasser.
After training, she drinks some cold water.
heiß
Pass auf, die Pfanne ist noch sehr heiß.
Be careful, the pan is still very hot.
In real life
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