Cold in Different Languages
Discover 'Cold' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'cold' carries a wealth of significance, influencing everything from how we interact with our environment to the foods we eat. Its cultural importance is undeniable, shaping customs and traditions around the world. For instance, in Nordic countries, the cold winter months are embraced with festivals like Sweden's 'Snow Festival' and Finland's 'Juhannus' or Midsummer celebration.
Moreover, understanding the translation of 'cold' in different languages can provide unique insights into diverse cultures. For example, in Spanish, 'frio' not only means cold but also describes a person who is aloof or unfriendly. In Japanese, 'samui' is used to express the feeling of cold, reflecting their sensitivity to seasonal changes.
So, whether you're a travel enthusiast planning your next adventure to a chilly destination or a language learner looking to expand your vocabulary, knowing the translation of 'cold' in various languages can be both fascinating and useful.
Cold
Cold in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | koud | ||
| "Koud" also means "known" in Old Frisian and Dutch, and comes from the Proto-Germanic word "*kunþaz" meaning "known or famous". | |||
| Amharic | ቀዝቃዛ | ||
| "ቀዝቃዛ" is also used to describe someone who is not hospitable. | |||
| Hausa | sanyi | ||
| Hausa "sanyi" originated from "sanyin" which also means the cold season between November to February. | |||
| Igbo | oyi | ||
| Igbo word oyi, meaning 'cold' relates to the state of being wet and soft. | |||
| Malagasy | hatsiaka | ||
| The word "hatsiaka" may also refer to a type of rice cultivated in the highlands of Madagascar. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kuzizira | ||
| The word kuzizira, meaning "to be cold", is a derivative of the verb kuzizira (to catch a cold), hence the connection to coldness. | |||
| Shona | kutonhora | ||
| The root word 'tonhora' can also mean 'quietness' or 'calmness', suggesting a connection between coldness and a sense of tranquility. | |||
| Somali | qabow | ||
| "Qabow" is a term also applied to anything raw, including food and liquids. | |||
| Sesotho | batang | ||
| The word "batang" can also refer to a person who is cold or unfriendly. | |||
| Swahili | baridi | ||
| The Swahili word "baridi" is related to the Proto-Bantu root *baɾid-, meaning "fresh" or "new." | |||
| Xhosa | kuyabanda | ||
| Kuyabanda shares its root with the word for 'winter' (iimbasa) | |||
| Yoruba | tutu | ||
| It can also mean `to be silent, unsociable or unfriendly' | |||
| Zulu | kubanda | ||
| The Zulu word "kubanda" is also used to refer to the cold season or the winter months. | |||
| Bambara | nɛnɛ | ||
| Ewe | fa | ||
| Kinyarwanda | imbeho | ||
| Lingala | malili | ||
| Luganda | obutiti | ||
| Sepedi | tonya | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nwunu | ||
Cold in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | البرد | ||
| The Arabic word البرد originally meant "hail" before coming to mean "cold" in general. | |||
| Hebrew | קַר | ||
| The word "קַר" (cold) stems from the root ק.ר.ר, which also means "freeze" or "curdle". | |||
| Pashto | ساړه | ||
| The word "ساړه" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *ser- "to flow, run," which is also the origin of the English word "serene" | |||
| Arabic | البرد | ||
| The Arabic word البرد originally meant "hail" before coming to mean "cold" in general. | |||
Cold in Western European Languages
| Albanian | i ftohtë | ||
| The word "i ftohtë" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵʰel- meaning "to freeze" and is related to the Latin word "gelu" meaning "frost". | |||
| Basque | hotza | ||
| The Basque word "hotza" can also figuratively refer to someone who is unfeeling. | |||
| Catalan | refredat | ||
| The Catalan word "refredar" is derived from the Latin verb "refrigerare", meaning "to cool down". | |||
| Croatian | hladno | ||
| The word "hladno" can also refer to a feeling of indifference or apathy. | |||
| Danish | kold | ||
| The word "kold" can also refer to a head cold, as opposed to a body cold. | |||
| Dutch | verkoudheid | ||
| The word "verkoudheid" is derived from the Middle Dutch "verkoude," meaning "to catch a cold," and is related to the German word "Verkühlung," which also means "common cold." | |||
| English | cold | ||
| The word "cold" is derived from the Old English word "ceald", which originally meant "numb" or "stiff". | |||
| French | du froid | ||
| The word "du froid" in French can also mean "indifference" or "aversion" | |||
| Frisian | kâld | ||
| The Frisian word 'kâld' is cognate with the English word 'cold' and the Dutch word 'koud'. | |||
| Galician | frío | ||
| In Galician, the word "frío" also means "cold-hearted" or "unfeeling". | |||
| German | kalt | ||
| In German, the word "kalt" can also refer to a person who is insensitive or indifferent. | |||
| Icelandic | kalt | ||
| The Icelandic word “kalt” can also refer to one’s state of mind or health. | |||
| Irish | fuar | ||
| Derived from the Proto-Celtic root *woretos (meaning 'cold'), fuar also signifies 'unripe' and 'impure' in Irish | |||
| Italian | freddo | ||
| The word 'freddo' comes from the Latin word 'frigidus' meaning 'cold' and also shares a root with the word 'frigid' in English. | |||
| Luxembourgish | kal | ||
| "Kal" also means "goal" or "purpose" in Luxembourgish. | |||
| Maltese | kiesaħ | ||
| “Kiesaħ” likely derives from the Arabic word “qarsh” meaning frost, ice, or “to shake violently” (as when one shivers). | |||
| Norwegian | kald | ||
| Norwegian "kald" comes from Proto-Germanic "*kaldaz", influenced by Old Norse "kol" (charcoal). | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | frio | ||
| In Portuguese, the word "frio" can also describe a lack of emotion or excitement, like a "cold shoulder". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | fuar | ||
| "Fuar" in Scots Gaelic is cognate with the Irish "fuar" and Welsh "oer", both meaning "cold", and is the root of various other Gaelic terms related to coldness, such as "fuaran" (cold water) and "fuachd" (chill). | |||
| Spanish | frío | ||
| In Spanish, "frío" can also mean "unfavorable" or "unwelcoming." | |||
| Swedish | kall | ||
| The Swedish word "kall" can also be used to describe someone or something as being unemotional, indifferent, or harsh. | |||
| Welsh | oer | ||
| The Welsh word oer derives its meaning from an ancient Celtic root meaning 'to freeze' or 'to chill'. | |||
Cold in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | халодная | ||
| The word "халодная" derives from the Proto-Slavic "*xolodь". In Russian, "холодный" also means "unemotional or unfriendly". | |||
| Bosnian | hladno | ||
| "Hladno" can also mean 'indifferent' or 'emotionless' in Bosnian. | |||
| Bulgarian | студ | ||
| In some Slavic languages, "студ" originally meant "stiffness" or "numbness," as in Old Church Slavonic "styděti," meaning "to be ashamed," or the Russian "stydnut," meaning "to grow cold and stiff. | |||
| Czech | studený | ||
| In some contexts, the word "studený" can also refer to a state of sobriety or emotional detachment. | |||
| Estonian | külm | ||
| The Estonian word "külm" is derived from the Proto-Finnic word *külmä "frost, ice" while the Finnic word *külvä "to sow" is its distant kin | |||
| Finnish | kylmä | ||
| "Kylmä" can also mean "calm, peaceful" in Finnish. | |||
| Hungarian | hideg | ||
| The Hungarian word "hideg" meaning "cold" is related to the word "hide" in English, possibly due to the sensation of wanting to hide away from the cold. | |||
| Latvian | auksts | ||
| "Auksts" (cold) in Latvian is also related to the word "auss" (outside), and has a similar etymology to the English word "icy" (from Old English "isig" or "ise" (ice)) | |||
| Lithuanian | šalta | ||
| The Proto-Baltic word *šaltas "cold" is cognate with Slavic *xolodŭ, both words being derived from a Proto-Indo-European root *ḱel- "to freeze". | |||
| Macedonian | ладно | ||
| The word 'ладно' ('cold') in Macedonian comes from the Proto-Slavic word *xladъ, which also means 'shade' or 'shelter'. | |||
| Polish | zimno | ||
| Although zimno comes from the Proto-Slavic word ‘zьma’ or ‘winter,’ it can be used for ‘cold’ in all four seasons. | |||
| Romanian | rece | ||
| The word "rece" (cold) in Romanian comes from the Latin word "glacies" (ice). | |||
| Russian | холодно | ||
| The word "холодно" can also mean "lonely" or "sad" | |||
| Serbian | хладно | ||
| "Хладно" can also mean "cool" in the sense of "indifferent, unemotional" or "calm" in the sense of "not excited or worried". | |||
| Slovak | chladný | ||
| In physics, _chladný_ can also mean 'cool'. | |||
| Slovenian | mraz | ||
| The Slovene word 'mraz' likely derives from the Proto-Slavic term '*mr̥znǫti', meaning 'to freeze'. | |||
| Ukrainian | холодний | ||
| The word "холодний" can also refer to a type of Ukrainian dance. | |||
Cold in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ঠান্ডা | ||
| The Bengali word "ঠান্ডা" (cold) comes from the Sanskrit word "sthanda" meaning frozen, and is also used in Punjabi and Hindi. | |||
| Gujarati | ઠંડા | ||
| The word “ઠંડા” can also mean “peaceful” or “calm” in Gujarati, in addition to its primary meaning of “cold”. | |||
| Hindi | सर्दी | ||
| "सर्दी" का अर्थ बुखार भी हो सकता है, और यह संस्कृत "सैरंध्री" से निकला है, जिसका अर्थ है "देवी इंद्राणी का।" | |||
| Kannada | ಶೀತ | ||
| "ಶೀತ" means "a cold" in Kannada, but it also means "the cold season" or "the winter season". | |||
| Malayalam | തണുപ്പ് | ||
| "തണുപ്പ്" (cold) in Malayalam also refers to the shade or cover of a tree, highlighting the close connection between coolness and shelter from the sun. | |||
| Marathi | थंड | ||
| The Marathi word "थंड" (cold) is derived from the Sanskrit word "शीत" (cold). | |||
| Nepali | चिसो | ||
| The word "चिसो" in Nepali comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵʰei- "to be cold". | |||
| Punjabi | ਠੰਡਾ | ||
| "ਠੰਡਾ" can also mean 'cold-hearted', 'indifferent', or 'relaxed'. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සීතල | ||
| "සීතල" is also used to describe something refreshing, calming or soothing. | |||
| Tamil | குளிர் | ||
| "குளிர்" in Tamil can also refer to the sensation caused by the entry of a soul into one’s body. | |||
| Telugu | చలి | ||
| The word "చలి" in Telugu is also used to describe the feeling of emptiness or loneliness, similar to the English term "cold shoulder". | |||
| Urdu | سردی | ||
| The word "سردی" in Urdu also refers to a lack of emotions or enthusiasm. | |||
Cold in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 冷 | ||
| 冷 can also mean 'calm', 'indifferent', or 'deserted'. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 冷 | ||
| The character 冷 literally means 'ice', and is also used as the word for 'icy'. | |||
| Japanese | コールド | ||
| The word "コールド" (cold) also has the alternate meaning of "completely" or "thoroughly" in Japanese. | |||
| Korean | 춥다 | ||
| "춥다" is derived from the Proto-Koreanic root *təp- "to be cold" and is likely cognate with the Japanese "samui" and the Mongolic "tsübgü". | |||
| Mongolian | хүйтэн | ||
| The word "хүйтэн" can also mean "cool" or "indifferent" in Mongolian. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အအေး | ||
| The word "အအေး" (pronounced ah-eh) can also mean "darkness" or "shade" in Burmese. | |||
Cold in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | dingin | ||
| "Dingin" is onomatopoetic, similar to the English words "ting" or "sing" | |||
| Javanese | kadhemen | ||
| In Old Javanese, 'kadhemen' also meant 'darkness', as suggested by its connection to 'keḍap', which means 'dark' or 'dim'. | |||
| Khmer | ត្រជាក់ | ||
| Lao | ເຢັນ | ||
| The Lao word "ເຢັນ" (cold) is also used to describe a person who is calm and collected. | |||
| Malay | sejuk | ||
| ‘Sejuk’ comes from the Proto-Austronesian *sijuk meaning ‘cool’, and also means ‘calm, peaceful, or quiet’. | |||
| Thai | เย็น | ||
| เย็น means 'afternoon,' 'evening,' 'late,' and in Thai astrology 'the element air'. | |||
| Vietnamese | lạnh | ||
| The word "lạnh" in Vietnamese, despite its primary meaning of "cold", also holds the extended meaning of "gloomy" or "withered." | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | malamig | ||
Cold in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | soyuq | ||
| The word "soyuq" in Azerbaijani ultimately derives from Old Turkic "soγuq" (cold), and it also has meanings of "cool" and "indifferent" in the modern language. | |||
| Kazakh | суық | ||
| The Kazakh word 'суық' is also used figuratively to describe a person's indifference or lack of emotion, much like the English phrase 'cold shoulder'. | |||
| Kyrgyz | суук | ||
| The term 'суук' can also refer to the northern region of Kyrgyzstan, a region known for its harsh winters, where the average temperature drops below -10°C during the coldest months. | |||
| Tajik | хунук | ||
| The word “хунук” (cold) may also refer to an emotionless or unenthusiastic person. | |||
| Turkmen | sowuk | ||
| Uzbek | sovuq | ||
| The Uzbek word for cold, "sovuq," may also mean "chill" or "indifferent." | |||
| Uyghur | سوغۇق | ||
Cold in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | anuanu | ||
| The word `anuanu` also means `pleasant, refreshing`, `solace`, or `consolation` in Hawaiian. | |||
| Maori | makariri | ||
| The word "makariri" in Maori can also mean "chilly" or "freezing". | |||
| Samoan | malulu | ||
| In Samoan, 'malulu' can refer to both physical coldness and a sense of sadness or loneliness. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | malamig | ||
| "Malamig" also refers to an emotion, signifying aloofness or unfriendliness. | |||
Cold in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | thaya | ||
| Guarani | ho'ysã | ||
Cold in International Languages
| Esperanto | malvarma | ||
| The Esperanto word "malvarma" is derived from the Latin "male" (bad) and "calere" (to be warm), implying "bad warmth" or "not warm enough". | |||
| Latin | frigus | ||
| Frigus is used in Latin poetry to describe the feeling of fear as well as physical coldness, likely due to the physical sensations of fear mimicking the physiological responses to cold. | |||
Cold in Others Languages
| Greek | κρύο | ||
| The word "κρύο" is also used to describe something that is emotionally cold or indifferent. | |||
| Hmong | txias heev | ||
| It is a metaphor for someone who doesn't smile or engage with others, with no derogatory connotation. | |||
| Kurdish | sarma | ||
| The word “sarma” can refer to a state of being cold as well as a state of being sick in Kurdish. | |||
| Turkish | soğuk | ||
| In Turkish, the word "soğuk" also has alternate meanings such as "uninterested" and "indifferent." | |||
| Xhosa | kuyabanda | ||
| Kuyabanda shares its root with the word for 'winter' (iimbasa) | |||
| Yiddish | קאַלט | ||
| 'קאַלט' in Yiddish can also figuratively mean 'unfeeling' or 'indifferent'. | |||
| Zulu | kubanda | ||
| The Zulu word "kubanda" is also used to refer to the cold season or the winter months. | |||
| Assamese | ঠাণ্ডা | ||
| Aymara | thaya | ||
| Bhojpuri | ठंढा | ||
| Dhivehi | ފިނި | ||
| Dogri | ठंडा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | malamig | ||
| Guarani | ho'ysã | ||
| Ilocano | nalammiis | ||
| Krio | kol | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | سارد | ||
| Maithili | ठंडा | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯏꯪꯕ | ||
| Mizo | vawt | ||
| Oromo | diilallaa'aa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଥଣ୍ଡା | ||
| Quechua | chiri | ||
| Sanskrit | शैत्यम् | ||
| Tatar | салкын | ||
| Tigrinya | ቁሪ | ||
| Tsonga | titimela | ||