Bedeutung
To describe the low temperature.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'Lüften' (airing out) culture means that even in sub-zero temperatures, Germans will open windows wide. It's common to hear 'Es ist kalt!' during this ritual, but it's a price they pay for fresh air. In the Alps, 'Es ist kalt' is often followed by a discussion of the 'Föhn' wind, which can cause sudden temperature changes. Swiss German speakers might use 'Es isch chalt'. The cold is embraced for winter sports, and 'Es ist kalt' is often a positive sign for skiing conditions. Complaining about the cold is one of the few universally accepted forms of 'Smalltalk' in a professional German environment. It's seen as a neutral, shared reality.
The Dative Secret
Always use 'Mir ist kalt' for yourself. Think of it as 'To me, it is cold'.
Don't say 'Ich bin kalt'
Unless you want people to think you are an emotionless robot!
Bedeutung
To describe the low temperature.
The Dative Secret
Always use 'Mir ist kalt' for yourself. Think of it as 'To me, it is cold'.
Don't say 'Ich bin kalt'
Unless you want people to think you are an emotionless robot!
Intensifiers
Add 'echt' or 'total' before 'kalt' to sound more like a native speaker: 'Es ist echt kalt!'
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing word to say 'It is cold today'.
Es ___ heute kalt.
The impersonal 'es' always takes the third-person singular form of 'sein', which is 'ist'.
How do you say 'I feel cold' correctly in German?
Which sentence is correct?
'Mir ist kalt' is the standard way to express personal coldness. 'Ich bin kalt' refers to your personality.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Warum trägst du einen {der|m} Mantel? B: Weil ___ ___ ___.
In a 'weil' (because) clause, the verb 'ist' moves to the end of the sentence.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You touch a plate that has been in the fridge.
You are describing the temperature of an object (the plate), so 'Es ist kalt' is correct.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Es ist vs. Mir ist
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenEs ___ heute kalt.
The impersonal 'es' always takes the third-person singular form of 'sein', which is 'ist'.
Which sentence is correct?
'Mir ist kalt' is the standard way to express personal coldness. 'Ich bin kalt' refers to your personality.
A: Warum trägst du einen {der|m} Mantel? B: Weil ___ ___ ___.
In a 'weil' (because) clause, the verb 'ist' moves to the end of the sentence.
You touch a plate that has been in the fridge.
You are describing the temperature of an object (the plate), so 'Es ist kalt' is correct.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, it is grammatically correct, but 'Es ist kalt' is much more common and natural for native speakers.
'Kalt' is cold, while 'kühl' is cool or chilly. 'Kühl' can be pleasant, but 'kalt' usually implies discomfort.
Use the verb 'werden': 'Es wird kalt'.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss, your grandma, or a stranger.
German distinguishes between an internal state (dative) and a permanent characteristic (nominative).
Yes, 'Er ist ein kalter Mensch' means he is an unfriendly, unemotional person.
It means 'ice-cold'. It's a common way to emphasize that it is extremely cold.
Just flip the words: 'Ist es kalt?'
'Es ist warm' or 'Es ist heiß' (It is hot).
Yes, if your soup or coffee has cooled down, you say 'Es ist kalt'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Eisig
specialized formIcy
Kühl
similarCool/Chilly
Frostig
similarFrosty
Warm
contrastWarm
Mir ist kalt
builds onI feel cold
