zimno

Zimno is a Polish word meaning cold. It describes low temperature or lack of warmth in the environment or objects, and it can also be used in a figurative sense to denote a chilly or unfriendly atmosphere. In everyday speech it most often appears in impersonal clauses with the verb być: na dworze jest zimno (it is cold outside) and w tym pokoju jest zimno (it is cold in this room). It can also be used in phrases such as zimno w powietrzu (cold in the air) to convey a sense of atmosphere.

Grammatically, zimno functions mainly as an adverb describing temperature. It does not inflect and is typically used with verbs of being or perception. The related adjectives are zimny (masculine), zimna (feminine), and zimne (neuter), which describe an object or person that is cold, e.g., zimny napój, zimna dłonie, zimne powietrze.

Etymology and cognates: zimno derives from the same Slavic root as the adjective zimny and the noun zima, all connected with cold and winter. The development of zimno as an adverbial form is typical in Polish, where a base adjective conveys the quality and the adverbial form conveys the state of temperature.

Usage and nuance: zimno is common in everyday speech, weather forecasts, and literature to convey temperature, mood, or tone. Its antonym is ciepło (warmth), while synonyms or related terms include chłód (coolness) and chłodny (cool or chilly).