German word

frieren

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈfʁiːʁən/

Meaning

  • verbfeel cold

Example

Er friert, weil das Fenster offen ist.

He feels cold because the window is open.

Illustration for frieren (feel cold)

More examples

Ich friere vor Kälte, obwohl ich einen Mantel trage.

I feel cold from the chill, although I am wearing a coat.

Core concept

Cold first causes discomfort in a person and can ultimately make water or another liquid solid.

Common phrases

  • vor Kälte frieren

    feel cold because of the cold

  • an den Händen frieren

    feel cold in one's hands

Similar words

frösteln: To feel a mild chill that causes a brief shiver.
zittern: To shake in small movements because of cold or nervousness.
bibbern: To shiver from the cold in a casual, expressive way.
erfrieren: To become dangerously cold, risking frostbite or death.

Definition in German

frieren heißt, körperlich Kälte spüren und darauf mit Zittern oder Frösteln reagieren.

Word origin

German frieren continues an inherited Germanic verb whose relatives include English freeze, rather than being a later borrowing.

Usage tips

  • For the bodily sense, the perfect is usually "Ich habe gefroren", but a frozen state commonly uses "Das Wasser ist gefroren".

Other meanings

  • freezeverb
  • freeze solidverb

Opposites

  • wärmenwarmverb
  • aufwärmenwarm upverb

Related words

  • Erfrierungfrostbitenoun
  • erfrierenfreeze to deathverb
  • frierendfeeling coldadjective

Word lists with this word