French Phrase
L'eau est froide.
Meaning
The sentence means “The water is cold.” It states the temperature of water, using the verb ‘être’ followed by an adjective that agrees in gender with the noun.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to comment on the temperature of any water—tap water, a river, a swimming pool, or a shower—especially if it feels unexpectedly chilly.
✦Grammar Breakdown
L'eauestfroide
Elision (L')
The definite article 'le' drops the 'e' and becomes 'l'' before a vowel or mute h, as in 'l'eau'.
Gender of 'eau'
'Eau' is a feminine noun, so any adjective describing it must be in the feminine form.
Verb 'être' (est)
'Est' is the third‑person singular present of 'être', used for 'he/she/it is'.
Adjective agreement (froide)
The adjective 'froid' adds an -e to agree with the feminine noun 'eau', becoming 'froide'.
🗨In Conversation
L'eau est froide.
The water is cold.
Oui, je vais mettre un pull.
Yes, I’ll put on a sweater.
✕Common Mistakes
Le eau est froide.
‘Eau’ is feminine and begins with a vowel, so the article elides to ‘l’’.
L'eau est froid.
The adjective must agree with the feminine noun, so use ‘froide’.
L'eau est froide.
Native speakers link ‘eau’ and ‘est’; saying ‘L'eau est’ without the liaison sounds choppy.
↔Alternatives
L'eau est fraîche.
The water is cool.
L'eau est glacée.
The water is icy.
Il fait froid dans l'eau.
It’s cold in the water.
Cultural Tip
In French, adjectives that describe temperature usually follow the verb ‘être’ and must match the noun’s gender and number. Even though ‘eau’ starts with a vowel, it remains feminine, so you must say ‘froide’, not ‘froid’. Also, native speakers often link the words with a liaison (l’eau‿est), which helps the sentence sound fluid.