kald
The English word 'cold' is translated into Norwegian as kald.
The adjective kald is used to describe something that has a low temperature. If you wish to refer to the phenomenon of coldness itself, you should use the noun kulde.
Meaning: having a low temperature (adj)
Which one should you use?
Use the adjective kald to describe a sensation or temperature, but use the noun kulde to refer to the phenomenon of coldness itself.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective has different forms depending on the noun it describes: the base form kald is used for masculine and feminine nouns, while kaldt is used for neuter nouns or when using the impersonal 'it is cold' (det er kaldt). For plural or definite singular forms, use kalde.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use kald to refer to a physical illness like a common cold. Instead, use the nouns forkjølelse or forkjøling for medical terms.
When do people say it?
In informal settings, you might hear the phrase Kaldt som faen, which translates to 'cold as hell.'
Did you know?
- While kald describes temperature, the word for a common cold, forkjølelse, literally means 'pre-cooling'.
- The Norwegian word kald descends from the Old Norse kaldr and shares a common ancestor with the English word 'cold'.
- The term kuldetoleranse is used to discuss a person's biological ability to endure the cold, a concept highly relevant in Nordic cultures.
Examples in context
- Det er kaldt her.It's cold here.This sentence shows how to use kald in an impersonal statement about the environment.Tatoeba #2932246 by eirik174, translation #2915041 by AlanF_US
- Hun er ikke kald.She's not cold.This sentence uses kald to describe a person's sensation.Tatoeba #3519454 by Meggie, translation #12576493 by elithyia
- Det er kaldt i dag!It's cold today!This sentence uses kald to describe the weather for a specific day.Tatoeba #10947009 by Mayk, translation #456205 by lukaszpp
- Det er kaldt ute.It is cold outside.
- Jeg synes det er så kaldt inne i dette huset.I think it's so cold inside this house.
- I dag er været kaldt og ubehagelig.Today, the weather is cold and unpleasant.
- Vi må ta på oss varme klær fordi det er kaldt ute.We need to put on warm clothes because it is cold outside.
- 49 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Magnus and Ingrid are preparing to go for a walk outside.
- MagnusEr det kaldt ute nå?Is it cold outside now?
- IngridJa, luften er veldig kald.Yes, the air is very cold.
- MagnusDa må jeg ta på meg jakken.Then I must put on my jacket.
- IngridDet er en god idé.That is a good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cold” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kald, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
