Feeling a chill? Whether you're describing the weather, a drink, or even a person's demeanor, the English word "cold" covers a lot of ground. But in French, it's not quite as simple! Just like there are many shades of cold, there are several distinct ways to express it.

Learning these different expressions will not only make your French sound more natural but also allow you to convey precise nuances. So, are you ready to warm up your vocabulary by exploring the various ways to say "cold" in French?

Let's dive into 9 different expressions to help you describe everything from a frosty morning to a refreshing beverage!

The standard 'cold' (adjective and noun) – froid

The word froid is the most common and versatile term for 'cold' in French. It can function as both an adjective and a noun, making it essential for discussing temperatures, feelings, and even certain abstract concepts.

As an adjective, froid describes something that is cold. Like all French adjectives, it must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies:

froid: masculine singular (e.g., un café froid - a cold coffee)
froide: feminine singular (e.g., une eau froide - cold water)
froids: masculine plural (e.g., des jours froids - cold days)
froides: feminine plural (e.g., des mains froides - cold hands)

You'll primarily use froid as an adjective with the verb être (to be) to describe the temperature of objects, places, or even abstract ideas. For example, La soupe est froide (The soup is cold) or C'est une personnalité froide (It's a cold personality).

Beyond its role as an adjective, froid also functions as a masculine noun, meaning 'the cold' or 'coldness'. When used as a noun, it is almost always preceded by an article like le (the) or un (a).

The noun le froid is crucial for expressing two very common ideas:

Avoir froid: To be cold (referring to a person or animal feeling cold). This uses the verb avoir (to have), not être. (e.g., J'ai froid - I am cold).
Faire froid: It is cold (referring to the weather). This uses the impersonal verb il fait (it makes). (e.g., Il fait froid aujourd'hui - It's cold today).

Understanding the difference is key:

L'eau est froide. (The water is cold - froide is an adjective modifying eau).
J'ai froid à cause de l'eau. (I am cold because of the water - froid is a noun, part of the expression avoir froid).

Here are a few other useful expressions involving froid:

Prendre froid: To catch a cold (e.g., Fais attention à ne pas prendre froid. - Be careful not to catch a cold.)
Le sang-froid: Composure, self-control (literally 'cold blood'). (e.g., Il a gardé son sang-froid. - He kept his composure.)
Un coup de froid: A sudden chill or cold snap.

Fortunately, distinguishing between froid as an adjective and froid as a noun is usually straightforward based on the surrounding words. If it follows a form of être and describes a noun, it's an adjective. If it's part of avoir froid or il fait froid, or preceded by le/un, it's a noun.

French speakers are often quite direct about the weather. You'll hear Il fait froid frequently in winter. Also, keep in mind that the French often dress quite warmly, even indoors, so don't be surprised if they find your room froide!

💡 * J'ai froid. (I am cold.)

Il fait très froid aujourd'hui. (It's very cold today.)

Cette boisson est froide. (This drink is cold.)

Les mains de l'enfant sont froides. (The child's hands are cold.)

N'oubliez pas votre manteau, il y a du froid dehors. (Don't forget your coat, there's cold outside.)

Elle a pris froid après la promenade. (She caught a cold after the walk.)

The common way to describe cold weather – il fait froid

When you want to express that the weather is cold in French, the most common and essential phrase you'll use is il fait froid.

Literally, il fait froid translates to 'it makes cold.' This construction, using the verb faire (to do/make), is standard for many weather expressions in French. It's crucial not to confuse it with il est froid (it is cold), which would imply an object is cold, not the general weather.

Whether it's a chilly autumn day, a frosty winter morning, or just a surprisingly cool evening, il fait froid is your go-to phrase. It describes the ambient temperature of the environment, not a personal feeling.

A common mistake for learners is confusing il fait froid (the weather is cold) with j'ai froid (I am cold). J'ai froid uses the verb avoir (to have) and describes your personal sensation of coldness, whereas il fait froid describes the external condition.

You can intensify il fait froid by adding adverbs like très (very), assez (quite), or un peu (a little). For example, il fait très froid means 'it's very cold,' and il fait un peu froid means 'it's a little cold.'

Understanding il fait froid also opens the door to other common weather expressions using faire, such as il fait chaud (it's hot), il fait beau (it's nice weather), or il fait mauvais (it's bad weather).

💡 * Il fait froid aujourd'hui, n'oubliez pas votre écharpe ! (It's cold today, don't forget your scarf!)

En hiver, il fait souvent très froid au Canada. (In winter, it's often very cold in Canada.)

Même s'il fait froid, je vais sortir faire une promenade. (Even if it's cold, I'm going out for a walk.)

J'ai froid aux mains parce qu'il fait froid dehors. (My hands are cold because it's cold outside.)

Il fait un peu froid ce matin, mais le soleil arrive. (It's a little cold this morning, but the sun is coming.)

The way to express feeling cold – avoir froid

In French, to express that you feel cold, you use the idiomatic expression avoir froid.

Literally translated, avoir froid means 'to have cold'. This is a key difference from English, where we say 'to be cold' (e.g., 'I am cold'). It's important not to use the verb être (to be) when talking about feeling cold yourself.

When using avoir froid, the verb avoir is conjugated according to the subject, while froid remains invariable. For example, 'I am cold' becomes J'ai froid, 'You are cold' becomes Tu as froid, and 'He is cold' becomes Il a froid.

To describe the intensity of the cold, you can add adverbs before froid. For instance, J'ai très froid means 'I am very cold', and J'ai un peu froid means 'I am a little cold'.

If a specific part of your body is cold, you use avoir froid followed by à (or au, à la, aux for contractions) and the body part. For example, J'ai froid aux mains ('My hands are cold' or 'I have cold hands').

Remember, while an object or the weather can be cold (Il fait froid, L'eau est froide), a person feels cold, expressed with avoir froid. Avoid saying Je suis froid(e) to mean 'I am cold' as it implies you are a cold person, lacking warmth or emotion.

💡 * J'ai froid, peux-tu fermer la fenêtre ? (I'm cold, can you close the window?)

Elle a toujours froid aux pieds en hiver. (She always has cold feet in winter.)

Nous avons très froid dehors sans nos manteaux. (We are very cold outside without our coats.)

Tu as un peu froid ? Je peux te prêter mon écharpe. (Are you a little cold? I can lend you my scarf.)

Ils n'ont pas froid, ils sont bien couverts. (They aren't cold, they are well covered.)

To describe something as 'icy' or 'freezing' – glacial

The French adjective glacial directly translates to 'icy' or 'freezing' in English, primarily referring to extremely cold temperatures or conditions.

You'll use glacial to describe things that are physically very cold, such as weather, wind, water, or even a drink. It conveys a strong sense of intense cold.

Beyond literal cold, glacial is also used metaphorically to describe a cold, unwelcoming demeanor, a frosty reception, or an unfeeling stare. It implies a lack of warmth or emotion.

As an adjective, glacial agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. It has masculine and feminine forms (e.g., un vent glacial, une atmosphère glaciale).

💡 *Il faisait un vent glacial ce matin. (There was an icy wind this morning.)
*L'eau de la mer était glaciale. (The sea water was freezing.)
*Elle m'a lancé un regard glacial. (She gave me an icy stare.)
*L'accueil qu'il a reçu était glacial. (The reception he received was freezing/cold.)
*Après la tempête, la route était glaciale. (After the storm, the road was icy.)

To say something is 'frozen' or 'frosty' – gelé(e)

The French adjective gelé(e) comes from the verb geler (to freeze). It directly translates to "frozen" or "frosty," describing something affected by extreme cold.

As an adjective, gelé(e) must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. You'll see it as gelé (masculine singular), gelée (feminine singular), gelés (masculine plural), and gelées (feminine plural).

Its most common use is in its literal sense, referring to objects or substances that have become solid or very cold due to freezing temperatures. This includes water, ground, food, or even parts of the body.

Beyond physical cold, gelé(e) can also be used metaphorically. It can describe a "frosty" atmosphere, a cold reception, or a lack of warmth or enthusiasm in a situation or interaction.

You might hear "être gelé(e)" to mean someone is feeling extremely cold, or "un accueil gelé" for a very unwelcoming reception. It conveys a sense of stillness, rigidity, or lack of warmth, whether literal or figurative.

💡 * L'eau du lac est complètement gelée. (The lake water is completely frozen.)

J'ai les mains gelées après être resté dehors. (My hands are frozen after staying outside.)

Elle nous a offert un accueil très gelé. (She gave us a very frosty welcome.)

Le sol est gelé ce matin, attention en marchant. (The ground is frozen this morning, be careful when walking.)

Ne touche pas ce plat, il est encore gelé au centre. (Don't touch this dish, it's still frozen in the center.)

To describe being 'chilled to the bone' or 'very cold' – frigorifié(e)

When you're absolutely freezing, past the point of just being 'cold,' the French adjective frigorifié(e) is your go-to word. It translates directly to 'chilled to the bone,' 'frozen stiff,' or 'very cold,' conveying a strong sense of discomfort due to extreme cold.

This term isn't for a mild chill; it's reserved for situations where you're genuinely suffering from the cold. Think of being caught in a snowstorm, waiting for a bus in sub-zero temperatures, or emerging from icy water. It implies a state of being thoroughly permeated by cold.

As an adjective, frigorifié(e) must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. So, it's frigorifié for a masculine singular subject, frigorifiée for feminine singular, frigorifiés for masculine plural, and frigorifiées for feminine plural.

While avoir froid simply means 'to be cold,' and il fait froid means 'it's cold,' frigorifié(e) expresses a much more intense, personal experience of cold. It's a stronger, more descriptive term than just 'j'ai très froid' (I am very cold), highlighting a deep, unpleasant chill.

💡 * Après avoir skié toute la journée, j'étais complètement frigorifié. (After skiing all day, I was completely chilled to the bone.)

Elle est rentrée frigorifiée après avoir attendu le bus pendant une heure sous la pluie. (She came home frozen stiff after waiting for the bus for an hour in the rain.)

Les enfants jouaient dehors sans manteau et étaient tous frigorifiés. (The children were playing outside without coats and were all chilled to the bone.)

N'oubliez pas vos gants, il fait un froid de canard et vous serez frigorifiés ! (Don't forget your gloves, it's freezing cold and you'll be chilled to the bone!)

To talk about a 'biting' or 'sharp' cold – mordant(e)

When the cold is more than just froid (cold) – when it feels piercing, intense, or even painful – the French adjective mordant(e) is the perfect word to describe it. It conveys a 'biting' or 'sharp' quality.

Mordant(e) literally means 'biting' or 'stinging,' derived from the verb mordre (to bite). When applied to cold, it suggests a chill that seems to cut through your clothes and penetrate your skin, often accompanied by wind. It's a much stronger and more evocative descriptor than simply froid.

As an adjective, mordant(e) must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For example, un vent mordant (a biting wind) or une bise mordante (a biting northerly wind). Remember the feminine form adds an 'e'.

💡 * Le vent mordant me glace jusqu'aux os. (The biting wind chills me to the bone.)

Il fait un froid mordant dehors aujourd'hui. (It's a biting cold outside today.)

Nous avons affronté une bise mordante pendant notre randonnée. (We faced a biting northerly wind during our hike.)

J'ai mis mon écharpe pour me protéger du froid mordant. (I put on my scarf to protect myself from the biting cold.)

To emphasize extreme 'polar' cold – polaire

When you want to describe an extreme, biting cold, the French adjective to reach for is polaire.

Literally meaning 'polar' or 'of the poles,' polaire vividly conveys the kind of intense cold found in Arctic or Antarctic regions. It's used to describe temperatures that are far below freezing.

You'll most often hear polaire used in expressions like un froid polaire (a polar cold/an extreme cold) or une nuit polaire (a polar night, referring to the long, dark nights in polar regions, implying extreme cold).

Polaire is much stronger than simply froid (cold). It implies a severe, often unbearable cold that can be dangerous if one is not adequately protected.

💡 * Il fait un froid polaire dehors aujourd'hui. (It's polar cold outside today.)

Nous avons affronté des vents polaires lors de notre expédition. (We faced polar winds during our expedition.)

La température est descendue à des niveaux polaires la semaine dernière. (The temperature dropped to polar levels last week.)

Habillez-vous chaudement, le vent polaire va souffler. (Dress warmly, the polar wind is going to blow.)

To refer to a 'coolness' or 'chill' – la fraîcheur

When you want to express the idea of 'coolness' or 'freshness' in French, the most direct and common noun to use is la fraîcheur. This term is a feminine noun and it encompasses various aspects of being cool or fresh, from temperature to quality.

La fraîcheur is frequently used to describe a pleasant, cool temperature, especially related to air, weather, or a specific environment. Think of the refreshing coolness of a morning breeze (la fraîcheur du matin) or the crisp air after a rain shower. It conveys a sense of invigorating chill rather than extreme cold.

Beyond temperature, you'll also commonly encounter la fraîcheur when discussing the quality of food, produce, or beverages. For instance, you might speak of la fraîcheur des légumes (the freshness of the vegetables at the market) or la fraîcheur d'une boisson (the coolness/freshness of a cold drink). It emphasizes that something is new, crisp, or well-preserved.

It's helpful to know that la fraîcheur is the noun form derived from the adjective frais (masculine) and fraîche (feminine), which both mean 'fresh' or 'cool'. Understanding this connection can make it easier to remember and correctly use both the noun and its related adjectives in different contexts.

💡 * J'apprécie la fraîcheur de l'air en montagne. (I appreciate the coolness of the mountain air.)

La fraîcheur de ces fruits est incroyable. (The freshness of these fruits is incredible.)

Gardez le vin dans un endroit frais pour préserver sa fraîcheur. (Keep the wine in a cool place to preserve its freshness.)

Après la douche, je ressens une agréable fraîcheur. (After the shower, I feel a pleasant coolness.)

La fraîcheur matinale rend la promenade plus agréable. (The morning coolness makes the walk more pleasant.)

Are there other ways to say 'cold' in French?

Our list features the most common ways to talk about 'cold' in French. But there are other terms, from old-fashioned ones, to regional ones, to up-and-coming slang ones this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire froid en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting synonyms for froid on this list. Of course, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about cold weather or feeling cold.

And if you’re looking for ways to talk about different kinds of cold, or words related to temperature in French, the WordReference entry for froid is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is the perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of a French proverb: Il n'y a pas de mauvais temps, il n'y a que de mauvais vêtements. (There is no bad weather, only bad clothes.)

9 ways to say "cold" in French