German Phrase
Da kommt kalte Luft rein.
Meaning
The sentence describes the observation that cold air is entering a space, usually because a window, door, or another opening is letting a draft in. It can be used to point out an uncomfortable temperature change.
When to use
Use this phrase when you feel a draft, when you want to tell someone that a room is getting chilly, or when you’re discussing why a heater needs to be turned on. It’s common in everyday, informal conversation.
✦Grammar Breakdown
DakommtkalteLuftrein
Da (adverb)
Da points to a place or situation, similar to “there” or “here” in English.
kommt (verb)
Present tense of kommen – “to come”. The subject is implicit (the cold air).
kalte (adjective)
Weak declension of the adjective “kalt” because it follows no article; ends in -e to agree with the feminine noun Luft.
Luft (noun)
Feminine noun meaning “air”. In the nominative case here, it is the subject of the sentence.
rein (adverbial particle)
Rein is a directional adverb meaning “inward, into”. It pairs with kommen to express something coming inside.
🗨In Conversation
Da kommt kalte Luft rein.
Cold air is coming in.
Ja, das Fenster ist offen. Ich schließe es gleich.
Yes, the window is open. I’ll close it right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Da kommt kalt Luft rein.
The adjective must agree with the noun Luft (feminine, nominative) and therefore takes the weak ending -e: kalte.
Da kommt kalte Luft reint.
The correct adverbial particle is rein, not reint. ‘Reint’ is a colloquial spelling that is not standard.
Da kommt die kalte Luft rein.
Adding the article ‘die’ changes the nuance and is unnecessary here; the original sentence is idiomatic without an article.
↔Alternatives
Hier zieht es kalt.
It’s cold here (a draft).
Es kommt kalte Luft herein.
Cold air is coming in.
Ein kalter Luftzug kommt herein.
A cold draft is coming in.
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking households, drafts (Zugluft) are often considered uncomfortable and even unhealthy. People usually close windows quickly after noticing a draft, and it’s common to comment on the temperature change with a short phrase like this. The tone is casual; in a formal setting you might say “Es zieht hier kalt.”