Temperature vocabulary is used to describe how hot or cold the weather feels and to report exact temperature measurements. The terms below are organized by intensity, from extremely cold to extremely hot.
Temperature Vocabulary
Temperature Vocabulary by Degree
- Freezing / Frigid / Bitterly cold: extremely cold, often below 0°C
- Cold: low temperature, uncomfortable without warm clothing
- Chilly / Nippy: slightly cold, often requiring a light jacket
- Cool / Crisp: pleasantly cool, often used for fresh air or autumn weather
- Mild / Moderate / Temperate: neither hot nor cold
- Warm / Balmy: pleasantly warm
- Hot: high temperature
- Muggy / Humid: hot and damp, uncomfortable
- Sweltering / Stifling: very hot and difficult to tolerate
- Boiling / Scorching / Blistering: extremely hot, usually unpleasant
Expressing Temperature with Numbers
Temperature can be expressed using degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees Fahrenheit (°F).
- It’s twenty-five degrees Celsius (25°C).
- The temperature dropped to minus thirty-eight degrees Celsius (–38°C).
- It’s ten degrees above zero.
- It’s five degrees below zero.
- The temperature reached thirty-six degrees Celsius.
- Water boils at 100°C or 212°F.
Positive and Negative Temperatures
- Positive: plus ten degrees / ten degrees above zero
- Negative: minus ten degrees / ten degrees below zero
Temperature Conversion Formulas
- Fahrenheit to Celsius: C = (F − 32) × 5/9
- Celsius to Fahrenheit: F = (C × 9/5) + 32
Describing High Temperatures
- Hot: very warm
- Sweltering: extremely hot and uncomfortable
- Scorching: very hot, often dry
- Boiling: extremely hot (informal)
- Blistering: intensely hot, often with strong sunlight
Describing Low Temperatures
- Cold: generally low temperature
- Freezing: at or below 0°C
- Chilly: slightly cold
- Frosty: cold enough for frost to form
- Icy: covered with or producing ice
- Snowy: involving snowfall
- Slushy (ground conditions): mixed snow and water
Idiomatic Expressions Related to Temperature
- Cold as ice: extremely cold or emotionally distant
- Hot under the collar: angry or upset
- Warm welcome: friendly reception
- Cool as a cucumber: calm under pressure
- In hot water: in trouble
- Heat of the moment: acting impulsively
- Chill out: relax
Last Updated on January 20, 2026
The Fahrenheit side of the thermometer needs a little bit of re-calibration work. I know very few people who would call 40° F sweltering.
How do you know that you are right about your own theory? And also you shouldn’t use your real life name on the internet GENE. But remember I don’t care?!
I was under the impression that you posted this because you care about education, but it appears you do not want to be educated. Gene was being polite. The accurate way to say this is that you clearly didn’t put any effort into the Fahrenheit side because it is so laughably wrong.
Hello
I know right
why should I wear warm clothes during the winter months. but then I have to wear cool clothes during the summer months ???
Your Fahrenheit scale is completely wrong, please fix the graphic. 0C is 32F, but your scale shows 10F. Also the notches are not the same size, 10 C tick-marks should face 18 F tick marks.