A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "The soup is cold" in French
Tell your waiter the soup isn't hot enough with this simple French phrase.
La soupe est froide.
la SOOP eh FROH-dneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this when your soup arrives at the table and it's not at the temperature you expected. It's a polite way to request it be reheated or replaced.
Alternatives
- La soupe n'est pas assez chaude.This is a bit more specific, meaning 'not hot enough'.
- Il fait froid dans la soupe.This is a more literal, less common way to say it, but understandable.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'soupe'
The 'p' at the end of 'soupe' is silent, so don't pronounce it.
Gender of 'soupe'
'Soupe' is feminine, so you must use 'la' and 'froide' (feminine form of cold).
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How to say the soup is too hot in French?
You would say 'La soupe est trop chaude.' This means the soup is excessively hot.
What if I want to be more polite about the soup being cold?
You could say 'Excusez-moi, la soupe est froide, s'il vous plaît.' Adding 'excusez-moi' and 's'il vous plaît' makes it more polite.
Will the restaurant remake the soup if it's cold?
In most French restaurants, they will be happy to reheat it or bring you a fresh bowl if it's not up to temperature.
