gekühlt

Gekühlt is the past participle form of the verb kühlen in German and is used as an adjective to describe items that have been cooled or are kept at low temperatures. It commonly appears in two positions: predicative, as in Die Getränke sind gekühlt, and attributive, as in gekühlte Getränke or ein gekühltes Produkt.

Grammatically, gekühlt is formed with the prefix ge- and the verb stem kühlen. When used attributively before a noun, it takes normal German adjective endings: der gekühlte Wein (masculine, nominative), das gekühlte Produkt (neuter, nominative), die gekühlten Getränke (plural). In predicative position with sein, it remains gekühlt: Die Getränke sind gekühlt.

Usage and domains of application include food and beverage, medicine, cosmetics, and general storage or transport. In labeling and inventory, gekühlt indicates that items require refrigeration or a cool environment. In the food industry and logistics, the term is closely associated with temperature control and the maintenance of product quality, often within specified ranges typical for refrigeration rather than freezing. Domestic contexts commonly refer to refrigerated storage or service, as in gekühlte Getränke or birthday items kept in a fridge.

Related terms include Kühlung (cooling) and Kühlkette (cold chain), which describe the broader processes and systems that maintain low temperatures from production to consumer. Gekühlt itself is a versatile descriptor in product specifications, packaging, and instructions, signaling that a given item should be kept cold to preserve safety or quality.