# Does "cold" mean illness across a large number of languages **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 14, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128 "2018-12-14T17:14:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/1 "2018-12-14T17:14:55Z")
I had no luck in Google with this because I couldn’t come up with a phrasing that addressed what I was trying to ask. In English, we use the word “cold” to mean a minor, routine seasonal illness- “I have a cold.” Do other languages use their translation of “cold” in the same way? Would a German say “Ich habe ein kalt?” Or is this a strictly English construct? If this is common I’d be interested in as many specific examples as people have Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/2 "2018-12-14T17:24:40Z")
German certainly tends to blame it on the cold, with the word “Erkältung” The French say “un rhume” or “enrhumé”, which derive from Latin and Greek words indicating streaming liquid, so describing symptoms rather than causes. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/3 "2018-12-14T17:29:24Z")
The Spanish word for cold _resfriado_ comes from the Latin _ex frigidare_, which means to get cold. So the word is not exactly the same as cold (_frio_) but is related to it. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/4 "2018-12-14T17:38:18Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > The Spanish word for cold _resfriado_ comes from the Latin _ex frigidare_, which means to get cold. So the word is not exactly the same as cold (_frio_) but is related to it. I see that Brazilian Portuguese also uses _resfriado_, although in Portugal they apparently use _constipação_. (That could make for an interesting “false friend” for an English speaker:D) ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/5 "2018-12-14T18:01:29Z")
In Hebrew, (like in English) there are two commonly used words for this condition. One means “I’ve become cold” the other means “I’m chilled”-- and they both imply that you have a runny nose and maybe a fever. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/6 "2018-12-14T18:05:56Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > The Spanish word for cold _resfriado_ comes from the Latin _ex frigidare_, which means to get cold. So the word is not exactly the same as cold (_frio_) but is related to it. Here in the peninsula, I have never heard resfriado spoken. They prefer gripa. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/7 "2018-12-14T18:09:20Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Here in the peninsula, I have never heard resfriado spoken. They prefer gripa. The word “grippe” is an archaic word in English for the flu. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/8 "2018-12-14T18:13:54Z")
Not in Japanese. The Japanese word for the common cold (_kaze_) is derived from the word for “wind”, and is also a homonym of it. Also, “hot” (as in temperature) and “hot” as in spicy are different words in Japanese. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/9 "2018-12-14T18:16:16Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Here in the peninsula, I have never heard resfriado spoken. They prefer gripa. Spanish has additional words as well, including _catarro_, _constipado_ (Spain), and in southern South America _resfrio_. I believe _gripe_ refers more to the flu. _Resfriado_ is the word I hear most frequently here in Panama. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/10 "2018-12-14T18:24:11Z")
A lot of Germanic languages have words for the common cold that are related to the English words _cool_, _chill_, and _cold_ (which if you go back far enough are all related). They are not necessarily the most common words for the condition in those languages. Afrikaans _verkoue_ Dutch _verkoudheid_ Danish _forkølelse_ German _Verkühlung_ Norwegian _forkjølelse_ Swedish _förkylning_ Icelandic _kvef_ (related to English “cough”) seems to be an outlier. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/11 "2018-12-14T18:50:34Z")
Not at all in Korean. Two entirely different words are used. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/12 "2018-12-14T18:53:29Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > In Hebrew, (like in English) there are two commonly used words for this condition. > One means “I’ve become cold” the other means “I’m chilled”-- and they both imply that you have a runny nose and maybe a fever. Interesting as I have wondered why it is called a cold. I never recall being cold when I have one. I thought it was because of the initial conditions that many think cause one to catch a cold, which would be being out in the cold weather. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/13 "2018-12-14T19:06:01Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Spanish has additional words as well, including _catarro_, _constipado_ (Spain), and in southern South America _resfrio_. I believe _gripe_ refers more to the flu. _Resfriado_ is the word I hear most frequently here in Panama. The fact that “constipado” means “having a cold” in Spanish should be reeeeeally useful for English speakers if they ever have an upset stomach in a Spanish-Speaking place and want to avoid hilarious misunderstandings. Both words are a way of saying “obturated”, but in Spanish the blocked body part is the nose. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/14 "2018-12-14T19:54:19Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Here in the peninsula, I have never heard resfriado spoken. They prefer gripa. Which is similar to _gripe_, the flu in many Spanish dialects. We also have _gripe estomacal_ (stomach bug; gastritis or gastrenteritis). And yes, the first time I encountered a reference to someone being constipated I got quite confused, as the context made it clear it meant some sort of tummy trouble. Dictionaries are such a great invention! ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/15 "2018-12-14T20:15:54Z")
A yes for some Slavic languages at least Prehlada - Croatian / Slovenian / Serbian = ‘a cold’, Hladno = ‘cold temperature’ ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/16 "2018-12-14T20:49:26Z")
No connection in the Waali language of northern Ghana: Cold (temperature) _ora_ Cold (illness) _Biereng_ Colds are often blamed on the weather, but the words are not related. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/17 "2018-12-14T21:05:09Z")
The aforementioned Afrikaans _verkoue_ is the only word for the common cold (flu is _griep_). The Afrikaans word for cold is _koud_/_koue_. So related but not the same - more like “coldening” or “colded”, really. ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/18 "2018-12-14T23:04:30Z")
In Irish slaghdán (cold, the illness) is unrelated to fuacht (cold referring to temperature). It’s from slaod, which means a swath or thick layer but can also refer to a debilitating (heavy) illness. Add the diminutive suffix -án to make slaodán which became slaghdán. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/19 "2018-12-15T01:51:19Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > The word “grippe” is an archaic word in English for the flu. Sounds like something Granny Clampett would say. > [@kanicbird](#): > > Interesting as I have wondered why it is called a cold. I never recall being cold when I have one. I thought it was because of the initial conditions that many think cause one to catch a cold, which would be being out in the cold weather. Today a cold mean an upper respiratory infection but it used to also refer to other parts of the body, such as a cold in your neck. I think, as you said, that it originally referred to the idea that being in the cold caused these problems. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128/20 "2018-12-15T02:49:41Z")
In Persian mostly the Arabic loanword زكام _zukam_ is what they call a cold, but there’s also the expression سرما خوردن [_sarma khordan_](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A7_%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86#Persian) (literally to swallow [cold temperature](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A7#Persian)), which means to catch a cold. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-mean-illness-across-a-large-number-of-languages/826128.md?page=2)