Hirnfrost
masculine
The English phrase "brain freeze" can be translated into German as Hirnfrost. Wiktionary also lists Kältekopfschmerz.
Meaning: pain in the head from eating or drinking something cold (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | Note |
|---|---|
| Hirnfrost | masculine |
| Kältekopfschmerz | masculine |
The term refers to the pain in the head experienced after eating or drinking something cold.
Did you know?
- German allows the creation of the hyper-specific Kältekopfschmerz, a compound word that literally labels the sensation as a 'cold-head-pain'.
- While Hirnfrost is a literal translation, many Germans actually use the English term 'brain freeze' in casual conversation.
- In a medical context, a doctor would never use Hirnfrost to describe the sensation, as it sounds too much like a poetic or metaphorical term.
Example sentences for German are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Hannah and Felix are eating ice cream at a cafe.
- HannahDieses Eis schmeckt wirklich toll, Felix!This ice cream tastes really great, Felix!
- FelixStopp, ich muss aufhören. Ich habe Hirnfrost.Stop, I have to stop. I have a brain freeze.
- HannahHast du zu schnell gegessen?Did you eat too fast?
- FelixJa, mein Kopf tut richtig weh.Yes, my head really hurts.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brain freeze” translations and entries Hirnfrost, Kältekopfschmerz, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
