German Phrase
Wie kalt wird's?
Meaning
Literally, “How cold will it become?” It’s the everyday way to ask about the expected temperature, usually in the near future (today, tonight, tomorrow).
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re chatting about the weather with friends, planning an outdoor activity, or just curious about the forecast. It’s informal, so keep it away from formal written contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Wiekaltwird's
Wie (interrogative adverb)
‘Wie’ asks ‘how’ and is used to inquire about degree or manner.
kalt (adjective)
Describes temperature; stays in its base form after ‘wie’ because it’s not being declined.
wird’s = wird es
A colloquial contraction of the verb ‘werden’ (to become) with the pronoun ‘es’; used in spoken German to ask about future weather.
Verb position
In a yes‑no or wh‑question the finite verb (wird) moves to second position, right after the interrogative word.
🗨In Conversation
Wie kalt wird's?
How cold is it going to get?
Heute wird es wohl um minus drei Grad.
It’ll probably be around minus three degrees today.
✕Common Mistakes
Wie kalt ist's?
‘Ist’ describes current temperature; the sentence asks about the present, not the future.
Wie kalt wird?
The verb needs the dummy pronoun ‘es’ (or its contraction) to complete the clause.
Wie kalt wird's heute?
While grammatically correct, using ‘heute’ after the contraction sounds odd; stick to either the full form or keep it short.
↔Alternatives
Wie kalt wird es?
How cold will it get?
Wie kalt wird es heute?
How cold will it be today?
Wie kalt wird es morgen?
How cold will it be tomorrow?
Cultural Tip
Talking about the weather is a staple of German small‑talk. ‘Wie kalt wird’s?’ is a relaxed, spoken form; in a more formal setting (e.g., a news report) you’d hear the full ‘Wie kalt wird es?’. In southern Germany you might also hear ‘Wie kalt wird’s denn?’ adding ‘denn’ for extra emphasis.