Chaud and Froid - Hot and Cold

January 2013 Grammar Lesson: Chaud and Froid - Hot and Cold
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Chaud and Froid - Hot and Cold
In French, when using the word “cold” or “hot,” you have to be careful because there are
different constructions: c’est froid, elle est froide, j’ai chaud, il fait chaud ... This lesson will
explain which expression to use in what condition, and whether the adjectives “froid” and
“chaud” change to agree with the subject.
1 - J’ai chaud / j’ai froid
To talk about how you are feeling, whether you feel cold or warm, we use the construction:
avoir chaud/ avoir froid. “Avoir” will agree with the subject; “chaud”/”froid” will never
change.
• J’ai chaud. I am warm.
• Ils ont froid. They are cold.
2 - Il est chaud, elle est froide
To talk about how something feels to the touch, we use “être” + “chaud” or “froid” agreeing
in number and gender with the noun it modifies:
• La glace est froide. The ice is cold.
• Tu es très chaude. You are very hot. (as in, “You have a fever”)
Th i n k French - jan vie r 201 3
Watch out: for people, chaud(e/s) and froid(e/s) have an idiomatic meaning:
• Elle est froide. She is cold, as in distant.
• Elle est chaude. Be very careful, this one is quite vulgar. Translated as “She is hot.”
It is a sexual reference.
3 - C’est chaud, c’est froid
If you are using “c’est”, the construction requires you to use only a masculine singular
adjective.
C’est chaud, c’est froid. These are the only things you can say when using “c’est.”
• Le thé, c’est chaud . Tea in general is hot.
• Mais le thé glacé, c’est froid. But iced tea (in general) is cold.
Note, also, the new slang expression “C’est chaud,” which means “It’s tough, difficult.”
4 - Il fait chaud, il fait froid
When talking about the temperature around you (the weather,) use the impersonal
construction “Il fait” + “chaud” or “froid” that never changes.
• Aujourd’hui, il fait chaud. Today, it’s hot.
• En Suède, en hiver, il fait froid. En Sweden, in winter, it is cold.
5 - OK, so to recap about “chaud” and “froid:”
• Elle a chaud. (never chaude) She is feeling warm.
• Elle est chaude. It/She is warm/hot. (Be careful! For a person, it is a sexual reference.)
• C’est chaud. (never chaude) It’s hot.
• Il fait chaud. (never chaude) It’s warm/hot outside.
6 - Watch out!
• J’ai un rhume. I have a cold
w w w. t h i n k f re n c h . c o m