German Conversation · Level 87
59 words
German word
erkälten
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛɐ̯ˈkɛltn̩/
Meaning
- verbcatch a cold
Example
Er erkältet sich oft im Winter.
He often catches a cold in winter.
More examples
Die Kinder haben sich erkältet, weil sie ohne Jacke draußen gespielt haben.
The children caught a cold because they played outside without a jacket.
Core concept
Cold air or an infection leaves someone in the familiar state of a cold, rather than merely making the person feel chilly.
Common phrases
sich erkälten
catch a cold
sich wieder erkälten
catch a cold again
Similar words
anstecken: Catch an illness from someone else.
auskühlen: Become chilled as body temperature drops, sometimes causing illness.
krank werden: Become ill and start feeling unwell.
Definition in German
Durch Kälte oder Infektionen eine Erkältung bekommen; meist reflexiv gebraucht (sich erkälten).
Word origin
German formed erkälten from the adjective kalt by adding er-, a prefix associated with entering a resulting state, and the verb later became associated chiefly with getting a cold.
Usage tips
- The perfect tense uses haben with the reflexive pronoun: 'Sie hat sich erkältet', while 'Sie ist erkältet' describes the resulting condition, not the event of becoming ill.
Related words
- das Erkältungsviruscold virusnoun
- erkältungsbedingtcold-relatedadjective