cold
Loading your saved state.
cold
An inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane that usually occurs as part of a cold and leads to a runny or blocked nose.
Ich habe mir einen Schnupfen eingefangen und kann kaum durch die Nase atmen.
I've caught a cold and can hardly breathe through my nose.
To talk about a 'Schnupfen' (cold), you use fixed verb-noun combinations. The most common are 'einen Schnupfen haben' (to have a cold, state) and 'einen Schnupfen bekommen' or 'kriegen' (to get a cold, beginning).
Ich kann heute nicht kommen, ich habe einen schlimmen Schnupfen.
I can't come today; I have a bad cold.
The noun 'der Schnupfen' (the cold) is related to the verb 'schnupfen' (to sniff/snort), which means to draw something in through the nose. This helps you remember the meaning as an illness with a runny nose.
Das ständige Schniefen wegen seines Schnupfens war sehr laut.
The constant sniffling because of his cold was very loud.
'Schnupfen' (cold) is often combined with adjectives that describe its severity. Typical phrases are 'ein leichter Schnupfen' (a mild cold), 'ein starker Schnupfen' (a bad cold), or 'ein hartnäckiger Schnupfen' (a stubborn cold).
Es ist nur ein leichter Schnupfen, ich fühle mich ansonsten gut.
It's only a mild cold; otherwise I feel fine.
cold
Both words can be used when someone has a runny or blocked nose. „Die Erkältung“ refers to the entire mild respiratory illness, while „der Schnupfen“ more specifically refers to inflammation and symptoms affecting the nose. Use Erkältung when there are several typical symptoms, and Schnupfen when the focus is on the nose.
Der Schnupfen ist heute stärker, aber sonst fühle ich mich wieder gesund.
My runny nose is worse today, but otherwise I feel healthy again.
Wegen meiner Erkältung habe ich seit gestern Husten, Halsschmerzen und Schnupfen.
Because of my cold, I have had a cough, a sore throat, and a runny nose since yesterday.
