A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "It's freezing" in French
Express that it's extremely cold outside in French, perfect for winter weather.
Il gèle !
eel ZHAYLcasual
French TTS · 0:01
Say this when stepping outside and feeling an intense cold, like when the temperature is at or below freezing. It's a common exclamation on a very chilly winter day.
Alternatives
- Il fait un froid de canard !Use this for a very biting, unpleasant cold.
- Je suis gelé(e) !Use this to say *you* feel frozen, not just that the weather is freezing.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'gèle'
The 'g' is hard like in 'go', and the 'l' is pronounced.
Using 'froid' alone
'Il fait froid' means 'it's cold'; 'Il gèle' means it's freezing.
A small cultural note
While 'Il gèle !' is standard, some might use more colorful expressions depending on region and personal style.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
how to say it's very cold in french
The most direct way to say it's freezing is 'Il gèle !'. This implies the temperature is at or below 0 degrees Celsius.
difference between il fait froid and il gèle
'Il fait froid' simply means 'it's cold,' which can range from chilly to quite cold. 'Il gèle !' specifically means 'it's freezing' or 'it's below zero'.
can I use il gèle for people
No, 'Il gèle !' refers to the weather. To say a person feels frozen, you'd say 'Je suis gelé(e) !' (I am frozen).
