Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| холо́дний | xolódnyj |
| зи́мний | zýmnyj |
The adjective холо́дний is used to describe something that has a low temperature. For the phenomenon of cold or a low temperature itself, you should use the noun хо́лод. If you are referring to an illness like a common cold or flu, use the nouns просту́да or засту́да.
Which one should you use?
While холо́дний describes a low temperature, the word зи́мний is used to describe things that are wintry or related to the season of winter.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective холо́дний must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. Use холо́дна for feminine nouns and холо́дне for neuter nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
xolódnyj
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse the adjective холо́дний (cold) with the noun хо́лод (cold/low temperature). Use the noun хо́лод when you are referring to the phenomenon of cold itself.
Did you know?
- To describe someone who is 'catching a cold', Ukrainians use the verb застуди́тися, which literally means 'to have become chilled'.
- In Ukrainian culture, the phrase холо́дний can describe a meal that was meant to be hot, but it also has a specific category for 'cold appetizers' called заку́ски.
- There is a common Ukrainian expression using холо́д to describe a 'cold reception' when someone is ignored or treated poorly upon arrival.
Examples in context
- У кімнаті дуже холодно.It's very cold in the room.
- На вулиці дуже холодно, я змерзла.It's very cold outside, I'm freezing.
- Сьогодні вранці був крижаний холодок.It was freezing cold this morning.
- Цей чай занадто холо́дний.Tsey chay zanadto kholodnyi.This tea is too cold.
- На вулиці сьогодні дуже холо́дний вітер.Na vulytsi siohodni duzhe kholodnyi viter.There is a very cold wind outside today.
- Мені не подобається цей холо́дний напій.Meni ne podobaietsia tsei kholodnyi napiy.I do not like this cold drink.
Example conversation
Irina and Oleksandr are in the kitchen.
- Ірина IrynaОлександре, чому чай такий холо́дний?Oleksandre, chomu chai takyi kholodnyi?Oleksandr, why is the tea so cold?
- Олександр OleksandrЯ забув його розігріти.Ya zabut yoho rozihrity.I forgot to warm it up.
- Ірина IrynaБудь ласка, підігрій його.Bud laska, pidihriy yoho.Please, heat it up.
- Олександр OleksandrДобре, зараз я це зроблю.Dobre, zaraz ya tse zroblu.Okay, I will do it now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cold” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
