koud
/kœu̯t/
The Afrikaans word for cold is koud.
koud is an adjective used to describe something having a low temperature, such as the weather or an object. When you want to describe the physical sensation of feeling cold, you often use the idiomatic phrase koud kry.
Meaning: having a low temperature (adj)
Which one should you use?
Use koud to describe the temperature of an object or the weather. To refer to the physical state of being sick with a cold (an illness), use the noun verkoue instead.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that a person is feeling the sensation of cold, speakers use the phrase koud kry.
How do you pronounce it?
/kœu̯t/
Did you know?
- The word koud can be intensified using bloedkoud, which literally means 'blood-cold' to describe extreme temperatures or a ruthless person.
- While koud describes temperature, the noun for a common cold verkoue is derived from words meaning 'to catch' or 'to take', reflecting how the illness is perceived.
- The word koud shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'gelid' and the word 'gel' through the Proto-Indo-European root *gel-.
Examples in context
- Tom se hande was koud.Tom's hands were cold.This example shows how to describe the temperature of someone's hands using koud.Tatoeba #3331629 by Diablofire, translation #3331516 by CK
- Jy kan die verwarmer aanskakel indien jy koud kry.You can turn on the heater if you're cold.This sentence demonstrates the idiomatic use of koud in the phrase koud kry to describe feeling cold.Tatoeba #5691025 by siener, translation #5690498 by CK
- Dit is baie koud.It's very cold.This sentence uses koud to describe the intensity of the temperature.Tatoeba #12773857 by Tom9358, translation #435726 by CK
- Hierdie water is yskoud.This water is ice-cold.
- Dit is so koud. Brrr!It is so cold. Brrr!
- Ek het 'n koudjie.I have a little cold.
- Moenie 'n koukie kry nie. Dit is baie koud buite.Don't catch a cold. It is very cold outside.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nicola and Andries are sitting outside in the evening.
- NicolaIs dit nie koud hier buite nie?Is it not cold out here?
- AndriesJa, ek begin ook koud kry.Yes, I am also starting to get cold.
- NicolaKom ons gaan binne, Andries.Let's go inside, Andries.
- AndriesDit is 'n goeie idee.That is a good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cold” translations and entries koud, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries koud, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
