If you’re learning English and see the word “frost,” you might wonder what exactly it refers to and how it’s used. “Frost” describes a thin layer of ice that forms on surfaces like grass, windows, or the ground when the temperature drops below freezing — usually during cold mornings. Learners sometimes confuse “frost” with “snow” or “ice,” but frost forms from moisture in the air and is usually light and delicate. Understanding this word helps you talk about weather conditions more accurately, especially in winter or when describing cold, crisp mornings in both casual and descriptive writing.
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Frost in 70 Languages
Europe
- Albanian – Brymë
- Basque – Izotz
- Belarusian – Іней (Iney)
- Bosnian – Mraz
- Bulgarian – Слана (Slana)
- Catalan – Gelada
- Croatian – Mraz
- Czech – Mráz
- Danish – Frost
- Dutch – Vorst
- Estonian – Härmatis
- Finnish – Kuura
- French – Givre
- Galician – Xeadra
- German – Frost / Reif
- Greek – Πάγος (Págos)
- Hungarian – Dér
- Icelandic – Frost
- Irish – Sioc
- Italian – Brina
- Latvian – Sals
- Lithuanian – Šerkšnas
- Macedonian – Мраз (Mraz)
- Maltese – Silġ
- Norwegian – Frost
- Polish – Szron
- Portuguese – Geada
- Romanian – Brumă
- Russian – Иней (Iney)
- Serbian – Мраз (Mraz)
- Slovak – Mráz
- Slovenian – Slana
- Spanish – Escarcha
- Swedish – Frost
- Ukrainian – Іній (Iniy)
- Welsh – Rhew
Asia
- Arabic – صقيع (Saqīʿ)
- Armenian – Սառնամանիք (Sarrnamanik’)
- Azerbaijani – Qırov
- Bengali – তুষার (Tushar)
- Burmese – ရေခဲမှုန့် (Re hke mhone)
- Chinese (Mandarin) – 霜 (Shuāng)
- Filipino (Tagalog) – Niyebe (also “frost-like cold”)
- Georgian – ყინვა (Qinva)
- Hindi – पाला (Pala)
- Indonesian – Embun beku
- Japanese – 霜 (Shimo)
- Kannada – ಮಂಜು (Manju)
- Kazakh – Қырау (Qyrau)
- Khmer – ស្បូវ (Sbov)
- Korean – 서리 (Seori)
- Kurdish – Befr
- Malayalam – മഞ്ഞ് (Manju)
- Nepali – तुषार (Tushar)
- Persian (Farsi) – یخبندان (Yakhbandan)
- Punjabi – ਕੋਹਰਾ (Kohra)
- Sinhala – හිම (Hima)
- Tamil – பனி (Pani)
- Telugu – మంచు (Manchu)
- Thai – น้ำค้างแข็ง (Nam khang khaeng)
- Turkish – Kırağı
- Urdu – کہر (Kohar)
- Uzbek – Qirov
- Vietnamese – Sương giá
Africa
- Afrikaans – Ryp
- Amharic – በረዶ (Beredo)
- Hausa – Sanyin sanyi
- Swahili – Theluji (also “snow”)
- Yoruba – ìrì
- Zulu – Isithwathwa
Conclusion
Frost is described through diverse linguistic lenses—some languages differentiate between hoarfrost (delicate crystals) and ground frost (frozen dew), while others use the same word for frost and snow. Cold-climate languages (e.g., Finnish “Kuura”, Russian “Iney”) often have nuanced terms, whereas tropical languages may borrow or adapt words.
Meta-Analysis
- Slavic Influence: Many Slavic languages (Russian, Serbian, Polish) use “Mraz” or “Iney”, linked to cold/freezing.
- Romance Variations: Spanish “Escarcha” vs. Italian “Brina” show Latin roots branching differently.
- Shortest Terms: “Pani” (Tamil), “Reif” (German).
- Longest Term: “Sarrnamanik’” (Armenian).
- Cultural Nuance: In Japan, “Shimo” is poetically tied to winter haiku, while “Qirov” (Uzbek) reflects Central Asia’s harsh winters.
