2 syllables: cold, ness. Stress on cold.
KOHLD-nuhs
/ˈkoʊldnəs/
coldness is pronounced KOHLD-nuhs (/ˈkoʊldnəs/). It has two syllables (cold-ness), with the stress on "cold". Coldness refers to the state or quality of being cold, or the perception of low temperature or emotional aloofness. It denotes a condition of low warmth, often associated with physical chill or figurative detachment, and can describe sensations, environments, or attitudes. The term emphasizes the degree of cold rather than a specific temperature, and is commonly used in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
Coldness refers to the state or quality of being cold, or the perception of low temperature or emotional aloofness. It denotes a condition of low warmth, often associated with physical chill or figurative detachment, and can describe sensations, environments, or attitudes. The term emphasizes the degree of cold rather than a specific temperature, and is commonly used in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
"The room exuded coldness, making everyone reach for jackets."
"Her coldness after the argument surprised him more than the words spoken."
"You can feel the coldness of the wind as it swept across the lake."
Pronounce it as /ˈkoʊldnəs/ in US and UK practice, with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with /k/ then /oʊ/ as a long vowel, followed by /l/ with a light touch to the tongue, then a /d/ and the unstressed /nəs/ sequence where /n/ blends quickly into the schwa-less /ə/ before /s/. In fast speech it can sound like /ˈkoʊldnəs/ with brief vowel reduction in casual contexts.
Two common errors are flattening the vowel in /oʊ/ to a short /o/ and mispronouncing the /dn/ cluster as separate, producing /dən/ instead of the rapid /dn/ blend. To correct: keep the /oʊ/ as a true diphthong, glide from /oʊ/ into a crisp /l/ and then quickly release into /dn/ without inserting an extra vowel. Practice by saying ‘coat + dense’ but with a single, tight transition between /l/ and /d/.
In US English, you’ll hear a clear /oʊ/ diphthong and a rhotic /r/ absence here; in UK non-rhotic environments, the /r/ is silent and the /oʊ/ remains, with slightly tighter /l/ articulation; Australian accents can show a slightly more centralized vowel quality and a softer /l/; overall, the primary differences are vowel quality and the potential reduction of the schwa in the second syllable depending on speed. IPA remains /ˈkoʊldnəs/ (US), /ˈkəʊldnəs/ (UK), /ˈkəʊldnəs/ (AU).
The difficulty stems from the /oʊ/ diphthong and the /ldn/ consonant cluster, which require precise tongue positioning and rapid transition. The /l/ is often darkened in junction with the alveolar /d/, creating a nuanced link that can slip into /lo/ or /ld/ without the /n/ blending. Additionally, the unstressed final /əs/ needs a quick, light tongue position so the /s/ is not swallowed; practice the exact sequence /oʊl/ to /dn/ to /əs/.
The word pairs a stressed strong syllable with a short, unstressed ending; the /dn/ cluster sits between a primary stressed syllable and a weak final /əs/. The nuanced transition from the vowel to the alveolar nasal and then to the sibilant requires quick tongue momentum and precise alveolar contact. You’ll want to avoid an extra vowel between /l/ and /d/, and ensure the final /s/ is crisp rather than breathy.
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Coldness derives from the Old English word caldnes(s) or caldnes, from cald (cold) with the abstract suffix -nes(s). The root cald traces to Proto-Germanic kaldzi, related to Dutch koud and German kalt, all indicating low temperature. In Old English, caldnes developed into caldnes and later caldnesse, with the -nes/-ness suffix forming the nominal abstract noun “state or quality of.” Historically, coldness was used to describe physical temperature, later broadening to emotional and metaphorical meanings (frialty, aloofness). By Middle English, the word carried both literal and figurative senses, and by Early Modern English it was common in literary and scientific discourse. The evolution reflects a shift from a concrete physical characteristic to a broader psychological descriptor, with “cold” itself serving as both adjective and noun in various idioms. First known uses occur in general English texts of the 9th–12th centuries, with “coldnes” appearing in manuscripts and later standardized spellings by the 16th century. Over time, coldness stabilized as a productive noun in both everyday language and specialized fields such as meteorology and sociology, retaining the sense of low warmth in multiple domains.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "coldness" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "coldness"
-ess sounds
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