kühl
/kyːl/
The German word for "cool" (meaning having a slightly low temperature) is kühl.
kühl is used to describe a slightly low or pleasant temperature. When describing a person's demeanor, it can also mean they are emotionally distant or unfriendly. Related to this is the verb abkühlen, which means to become less intense, such as becoming less amicable.
Meaning: having a slightly low temperature (adj)
Which one should you use?
Use kühl to describe a pleasant or slightly low temperature, whereas kalt implies a much lower and often uncomfortable temperature (cold).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As a predicate, the adjective kühl is indeclinable, such as in Das Wasser ist kühl. However, it takes endings when used directly before a noun, such as in ein kühler Wind.
How do you pronounce it?
/kyːl/
Did you know?
- While kühl describes temperature, Germans use the word cool (pronounced like English) as a loanword to describe something trendy or impressive.
- The German kühl is a direct cognate of the English 'cool', meaning they both descended from the same Proto-Germanic root *kōluz.
- In German, the phrase einen kühlen Kopf bewahren means to keep a 'cool head' or stay calm under pressure.
Examples in context
- Es ist sehr kühl.It's really cool.This sentence shows how to use kühl to describe the current temperature.Tatoeba #8834217 by wolfgangth, translation #2249207 by CK
- Es war sehr kühl.It was very cool.This sentence shows how to use kühl to describe a past temperature.Tatoeba #8889191 by wolfgangth, translation #5422762 by CK
- Es ist kühl heute.It's cool today.This sentence shows how to use kühl to describe today's temperature.Tatoeba #7109341 by ruth_tatoeba, translation #242990 by CK
- Die Idee, die Sie vorgeschlagen haben, ist wirklich toll!The idea you proposed is really cool!
- Das neue Auto ist echt cool!The new car is really cool!
- Das ist wirklich super, wie du das geschafft hast!That's really cool, how you managed to do that!
- Deine Leistung beim Sportwettbewerb war echt stark!Your performance in the sports competition was really cool!
- Dein neuer Haarschnitt ist echt geil!Your new haircut is really cool!
- Wow, das war echt krass, wie schnell du gelaufen bist!Wow, that was really cool, how fast you were running!
- 82 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Julia are standing by an open window in their apartment.
- JulianDer Wind ist angenehm kühl.The wind is pleasantly cool.
- JuliaJa, es ist heute sehr kühl.Yes, it is very cool today.
- JulianSoll ich das Fenster schließen?Should I close the window?
- JuliaNein, lass es so, es ist schön kühl.No, leave it like this, it is nicely cool.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cool” translations and entries kühl, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kühl, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
