PrettyFluent
This is just a lesson preview. Get the interactive lesson free on PrettyFluent
🥶

How to Say ‘It's cold’ in French

Il fait froid

eel feh frwah

[eel feh frwah]

💬 Usage Tip: Weather uses il fait, which literally means "it makes." For example, Il fait chaud "It's hot" or Il fait beau "It's nice out."

Phrase Breakdown

Il

[eel]

it

In il y a, il does not refer to a person; it is part of the expression meaning “there is/there are.”

Example

Est-ce qu'il y a un parking sur place ?

Is there parking on site?

fait

[feh]

is / makes

Fait is used in weather expressions like il fait froid, meaning 'it is cold'.

Example

Au portail, on dit souvent : Il fait froid ce matin.

At the gate, people often say: 'It's cold this morning.'

froid

[frwah]

cold

Froid means 'cold'.

Example

Avec les manteaux, on remarque : Il fait froid ce matin.

With the coats on, we remark: 'It's cold this morning.'

Related guides

French Conversation for Beginners: 6 Everyday Dialogues You'll Actually UseSix basic French conversations for beginners, from greeting a neighbour and introducing yourself to booking a restaurant, with translations, native audio and the phrases that keep them going.Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Download PrettyFluent on the App StoreGet Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant lessons were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”

Tom H., 38, Chef

“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”

Nina W., 29, Graduate Student

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer