Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA |
|---|---|
| koud | /kɑu̯t/ |
| fris | /frɪs/ |
| koel | /kul/ |
The word koud is used to describe something that has a low temperature. When describing your own sensation of feeling cold, Dutch speakers use the idiomatic phrase het koud hebben, such as in Ik heb het koud.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the nuance of the temperature. koud typically implies an unpleasant or low temperature. In contrast, fris is often used to describe a pleasant, refreshing coolness, such as in the weather or air. koel is a neutral term used for a moderate temperature that is cooler than room temperature but not as cold as koud.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective koud becomes koude when it precedes a masculine or feminine noun, for example, de koude wind.
How do you pronounce it?
/kɑu̯t/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying Ik ben koud to mean you feel cold. In Dutch, Ik ben koud implies that your skin is cold to the touch or that you are an emotionally cold person. Instead, use the construction Ik heb het koud.
Did you know?
- In the Netherlands, fris is commonly used as a shorthand for frisdrank, which means 'soft drink'.
Examples in context
- Is het ijs koud?Is the ice cold?This sentence is useful for asking if the temperature of ice is koud.Tatoeba #2619758 by martinod, translation #3430211 by MTC
- De soep is koud.The soup's cold.This sentence is useful for stating that soup is koud.Tatoeba #3672230 by PaulP, translation #2268539 by _undertoad
- Ik had het koud.I felt cold.This sentence is useful for saying you felt koud.Tatoeba #7680507 by MarijnKp, translation #256710 by CK
- Het is erg koud vandaag.It is very cold today.
- Het water is te koud om te zwemmen.The water is too cold to swim in.
- De kamer is koud. Kan je het raam dichtdoen?The room is cold. Can you close the window?
- Gisteren was het echt koel buiten.Yesterday it was really cool outside.
- Brrr… het is guur buiten!Brrr… it's cold outside!
- Het wordt guurder en guurder nu de winter nadert.It's getting colder and colder as winter approaches.
- 377 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daan and Emma are sitting in a cafe near an open window.
- DaanHet is hier erg koud.It is very cold in here.
- EmmaZal ik het raam dichtdoen?Shall I close the window?
- DaanJa, dat is een goed idee.Yes, that is a good idea.
- EmmaNu is het weer wat warmer.Now it is a bit warmer.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cold” translations and entries koud, fris, koel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fris, koel, koud, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
