A1 Collocation Neutral

Het is koud.

It is cold.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use 'Het is koud' to describe low temperatures in Dutch weather or environments.

  • Means: The temperature is low.
  • Used in: Casual conversation, checking the weather, or complaining about the office AC.
  • Don't confuse: 'Het is koud' (it is cold) with 'Ik heb het koud' (I am cold).
Thermometer icon + shivering person = 'Het is koud'

Explanation at your level:

This phrase is used to say the temperature is low. You use it for weather or rooms. It is very simple and common.
Use 'Het is koud' to describe the environment. It is a neutral statement. Remember that 'Het' refers to the general situation, not a specific thing.
This collocation is essential for daily communication. It functions as an impersonal construction. It is important to distinguish between the environmental state ('Het is koud') and the subjective experience ('Ik heb het koud').
In Dutch, 'Het is koud' serves as a primary meteorological descriptor. It is highly versatile, functioning in both literal weather reports and metaphorical contexts where an atmosphere is described as distant or unwelcoming. Mastery involves understanding the subtle distinction between objective temperature and subjective perception.
The phrase 'Het is koud' exemplifies the Dutch tendency toward impersonal constructions when describing environmental phenomena. From a cognitive linguistic perspective, it externalizes the state of coldness, separating it from the speaker's internal state. This is a crucial distinction in Dutch, as it avoids the ambiguity found in languages where the same verb might describe both.
The syntactic structure 'Het is koud' utilizes the dummy subject 'het' to predicate a state of low thermal energy. This construction is a hallmark of Dutch impersonal weather expressions. By analyzing the lexical semantics of 'koud' within the framework of Germanic weather-verbs, one observes a rigid adherence to objective state-description, which contrasts with the more subjective 'Ik heb het koud'. This distinction is fundamental to achieving native-like pragmatic competence.

Meaning

Describing low temperatures.

🌍

Cultural Background

Weather is the ultimate small talk topic.

💡

Don't overthink

It's just like English.

Meaning

Describing low temperatures.

💡

Don't overthink

It's just like English.

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Het ___ koud.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is

The verb 'zijn' (is) is used for weather.

🎉 Score: /1

Frequently Asked Questions

1 questions

No, that implies they are a cold object.

Related Phrases

🔗

Het vriest

similar

It is freezing

Where to Use It

🚌

At the bus stop

A: Het is koud vandaag, hè?

B: Ja, echt koud!

neutral
🏪

Entering a shop

A: Het is koud buiten!

B: Gelukkig is het hier warm.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Cold' 'Koud' cat shivering in the snow.

Visual Association

Imagine a thermometer dropping to zero and the word 'KOUD' appearing in blue ice letters.

Rhyme

Het is koud, ik word oud.

Story

I walked outside. I felt the wind. I said, 'Het is koud.' I put on my coat. Now I am warm.

Word Web

koudwarmvriezenwinterjasijstemperatuurfris

Challenge

Say 'Het is koud' every time you feel a draft today.

In Other Languages

Spanish low

Hace frío.

Dutch uses 'to be', Spanish uses 'to make'.

French low

Il fait froid.

French uses 'faire' instead of 'être'.

German high

Es ist kalt.

None, they are identical.

Japanese moderate

寒いですね (Samui desu ne).

Japanese lacks the dummy subject.

Arabic moderate

الجو بارد (Al-jaww barid).

Arabic uses an explicit noun subject.

Chinese moderate

天气很冷 (Tiānqì hěn lěng).

Chinese uses 'weather' as the subject.

Korean moderate

날씨가 추워요 (Nalssiga chuwoyo).

Korean uses an explicit subject.

Portuguese high

Está frio.

Portuguese uses 'estar' vs Dutch 'zijn'.

Easily Confused

Het is koud. vs Ik heb het koud

Learners mix up environmental vs personal cold.

Use 'Het is' for weather, 'Ik heb het' for yourself.

FAQ (1)

No, that implies they are a cold object.

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!