die
Unterkühlung
🧊 What Exactly is Unterkühlung?
Die Unterkühlung (also known medically as hypothermia) is a condition where the core body temperature of a person or animal drops below the level required for normal metabolism and bodily functions (typically below 35°C or 95°F in humans).
It is a potentially life-threatening medical emergency caused by prolonged exposure to cold – whether through cold air, water, or contact with cold ground.
⚠️ Important: Unterkühlung is not the same as simply feeling cold (frieren). Feeling cold is a normal reaction, while Unterkühlung represents a dangerous drop in core temperature.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
Grammar Check: Declining Unterkühlung
The word 'Unterkühlung' is a feminine noun. The article is therefore die.
It is mainly used in the singular. The plural ('die Unterkühlungen') is grammatically correct but rare and typically used in specific medical or scientific contexts, for instance, when describing different cases or types of hypothermia.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | Unterkühlung |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | Unterkühlung |
| Dative (To whom/What?) | der | Unterkühlung |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | Unterkühlung |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Unterkühlungen |
| Genitive | der | Unterkühlungen |
| Dative | den | Unterkühlungen |
| Accusative | die | Unterkühlungen |
Real-life Examples
- Nach dem Sturz ins eiskalte Wasser erlitt der Wanderer eine schwere Unterkühlung.
(After falling into the ice-cold water, the hiker suffered severe hypothermia.) - Die Symptome der Unterkühlung sind oft Zittern, Verwirrtheit und Müdigkeit.
(The symptoms of hypothermia are often shivering, confusion, and fatigue.) - Man muss bei einer Unterkühlung schnell und richtig handeln.
(One must act quickly and correctly in case of hypothermia.) - Ärzte behandeln die Unterkühlung durch langsames Aufwärmen des Körpers.
(Doctors treat hypothermia by slowly warming up the body.)
Usage: When Do We Talk About Unterkühlung?
The term die Unterkühlung is used in the following contexts:
- Medicine/Emergencies: Most commonly to describe the pathological state of the body at too low a temperature. Example: "Der Notarzt diagnostizierte eine mittelschwere Unterkühlung." (The emergency doctor diagnosed moderate hypothermia.)
- Prevention/Warnings: In connection with cold weather, mountaineering, water sports, etc., to point out the danger. Example: "Bei diesen Temperaturen besteht die Gefahr der Unterkühlung." (At these temperatures, there is a risk of hypothermia.)
- Physics/Technology (rare): Sometimes used figuratively or in technical contexts when something is cooled below a certain setpoint, although 'Hypothermie' would be inappropriate here. Usually, one would speak of 'Unterkühlen' (supercooling) or more specific terms.
Distinction: 'Unterkühlung' refers to the condition, not the feeling. If you are just shivering (frösteln) or have cold hands, that is not yet Unterkühlung in the medical sense, but rather 'frieren' (feeling cold) or 'Kältegefühl' (sensation of cold).
How to Remember 'die Unterkühlung' 🧠
Article Mnemonic:
Many German nouns ending in -ung are feminine (die). Think of: die Heizung (heating), die Kühlung (cooling), die Erkältung (common cold)... and therefore also die Unterkühlung! The ending -ung often indicates a process or state, which fits here.
Meaning Mnemonic:
Imagine your body is like a thermometer. 'Unter' means 'below' or 'under'. 'Kühlung' clearly relates to 'cooling'. So: Unter-Kühlung = The body has been cooled below its normal temperature. So cold it becomes dangerous! 🥶
Word Alternatives: Similar & Opposite
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Hypothermie: The medical term.
- Auskühlung: Emphasizes the process of becoming cold, often used synonymously.
- Erfrierung: Specifically refers to tissue damage from cold (frostbite, often on fingers, toes), but can occur alongside hypothermia. 🚨 Not exactly the same!
Antonyms (Opposites):
- Überhitzung: General term for excessive heat.
- Hitzschlag / Hyperthermie: The medical emergency involving excessively high body temperature (heatstroke).
- Erwärmung: The process of warming up.
A Little Chuckle 😄
Fragt der Arzt den Patienten mit starker Unterkühlung: "Na, wie fühlen Sie sich?"
Antwortet der Patient zitternd: "Eis-kalt erwischt, Herr Doktor!"
Translation:
The doctor asks the patient suffering from severe hypothermia: "Well, how are you feeling?"
The patient replies, shivering: "Caught ice-cold, doctor!" (A pun on "eiskalt erwischen", which means to catch someone completely off guard or unprepared, but literally translates to 'catch ice-cold'.)
A Little Poem About Cold
Der Wind weht kalt, der Schnee fällt dicht,
Vergessen ist das Sonnenlicht.
Der Körper zittert, wird ganz blass,
Gefährlich ist die Kältenass.
Die Unterkühlung schleicht sich an,
Schutz suchen sollte jedermann.
Warm eingepackt, zu Haus' im Nu,
Sonst droht dem Leben bittre Ruh'.
Translation:
The wind blows cold, the snow falls dense,
Forgotten is the sun's defense.
The body shivers, turns quite pale,
Dangerous is the cold, wet trail.
Hypothermia creeps near,
Shelter everyone should hold dear.
Wrapped up warm, at home anew,
Or life may face a bitter adieu.
Who or What Am I? 🤔
Ich komme nicht durch Hitze, sondern Kälte groß,
mach' dich zittrig, müde, kraftlos bloß.
Deine Kerntemperatur, die sinkt durch mich,
bin ein Notfall, sicherlich!
Was bin ich?
Lösung: die Unterkühlung
Translation:
I don't arise from heat, but grow through cold,
I make you shivery, tired, strength takes hold.
Your core temperature sinks because of me,
I'm an emergency, certainly!
What am I?
Solution: die Unterkühlung (hypothermia)
More Things to Know 💡
Word Composition:
The word 'Unterkühlung' is composed of:
- unter-: Prefix meaning 'below' or 'under' a standard value here.
- Kühlung: Noun derived from the verb 'kühlen' (to cool), which comes from 'kühl' (cool).
Severity Levels:
Medically, Unterkühlung is often classified into different levels of severity (mild, moderate, severe), depending on the measured core body temperature and the symptoms.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Unterkühlung?
The noun Unterkühlung is feminine. The correct article is die. So you say: die Unterkühlung.