Il fait froid
The English phrase "the weather is cold" is translated into French as Il fait froid.
If you need to express that the temperature is low in a formal context, you can say La température est basse. To formally describe particularly severe cold weather, use Le froid est intense.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Il fait froid literally translates to "It makes cold" because French uses the verb faire (to do/make) to describe weather conditions.
Which one should you use?
Use Il fait froid to imply a more significant, uncomfortable cold. If the weather is only slightly cold or chilly, use Il fait frais instead. For a playful way to convey mild coldness, you can use the informal expression Il fait frisquet.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, you might say Frette instead of Froid to describe the cold weather.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying Il est froid when describing the weather. In French, Il est froid would mean a specific object, such as a stone or a soup, is cold to the touch. Always use Il fait froid for the weather.
Did you know?
- While English speakers say 'I am cold', the French use J'ai froid, which literally means 'I have cold'. This treats the cold as an external sensation one possesses rather than a state of being.
- In a romantic or social context, saying Il est froid about a person describes their personality as distant or uncaring, whereas Il fait froid only ever refers to the temperature.
- The word froid is a double of the French word frigide. While they share the same Latin ancestor, froid evolved naturally over centuries, whereas frigide was borrowed back into French from Latin later on.
Examples in context
- Il fait froid.The weather is cold.Tatoeba #3635 by TRANG, translation #1766684 by AlanF_US
- Il caille !It's freezing!
- Il fait froid ce matin.It is cold this morning.
- Mets ton manteau, il fait froid dehors.Put on your coat, it is cold outside.
Example conversation
Manon and Hugo are standing outside a building.
- ManonOn rentre ? Il fait froid !Shall we go inside? The weather is cold!
- HugoOui, je suis d'accord.Yes, I agree.
- ManonTu as ton manteau, Hugo ?Do you have your coat, Hugo?
- HugoNon, j'ai oublié mon manteau.No, I forgot my coat.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fait, froid, il, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
