kühlen
to cool
To make something cold or lower its temperature.
EXAMPLE
Wir sollten die Getränke für die Party im Kühlschrank kühlen.
We should cool the drinks for the party in the refrigerator.
kühlen
to cool
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Meanings
kühlen
to cool
To treat an injury or swelling with something cold in order to relieve pain and reduce the swelling.
EXAMPLE
Du solltest deinen verstauchten Knöchel sofort mit einem Eisbeutel kühlen.
You should cool your sprained ankle immediately with an ice pack.
sich kühlen
to cool oneself off
To cool down one's own body, for example with a cold drink, water, or shade.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Sonnenbad kühlte er sich mit einem Sprung in den See.
After sunbathing, he cooled himself off by jumping into the lake.
sein Mütchen an jemandem kühlen
to take it out on someone
To vent one's anger or frustration on a person who is usually uninvolved or weaker.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Streit mit seinem Chef kühlte er sein Mütchen an seinen Mitarbeitern.
After the argument with his boss, he took it out on his employees.
Usage tips
Word family
The verb "kühlen" (to cool) is derived directly from the adjective "kühl" (cool). It describes the action of making something or oneself cool.
EXAMPLE
Eine kühle Brise wehte vom Meer herüber.
A cool breeze blew in from the sea.
Reflexive verb
When a person cools down their own body, the verb is used reflexively: "sich kühlen" (to cool oneself off). The reflexive pronoun (sich, mich, dich, etc.) is necessary here.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem langen Lauf kühlte ich mich unter der kalten Dusche.
After the long run, I cooled myself off under the cold shower.
Fixed expression
The idiom "sein Mütchen an jemandem kühlen" (to take it out on someone) is a fixed unit. It means to vent one's anger on a person. The person who receives the anger always appears with the preposition "an" in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Er war wütend auf seinen Lehrer und kühlte sein Mütchen an seinem kleinen Bruder.
He was angry with his teacher and took it out on his little brother.
Typical collocations
In a medical context, "kühlen" (to cool) is often combined with body parts or injuries. Typical phrases are "den Knöchel kühlen" (to cool the ankle), "eine Schwellung kühlen" (to cool a swelling), or "die Wunde kühlen" (to cool the wound).
EXAMPLE
Der Arzt sagte, ich solle das Knie regelmäßig kühlen.
The doctor said I should cool my knee regularly.
Compare with
kühlen vs abkühlen
to cool down
Kühlen usually refers to a deliberate action that makes something reach a lower temperature. Abkühlen can also refer to this action, but it emphasizes the change in temperature more strongly and can also be used without a person carrying out the action. Therefore, only abkühlen is appropriate for something becoming cooler on its own.
kühlen
Ich kühle den heißen Tee gezielt mit einem Eiswürfel.
I deliberately cool the hot tea with an ice cube.
abkühlen
Während des Wartens kühlt der heiße Tee von selbst ab.
While we wait, the hot tea cools down on its own.
In real life
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