Whether you're talking about food, roommates, groceries, or energy bills — knowing how to say fridge in German is one of the first vocabulary wins that will serve you again and again.

The word is Kühlschrank — pronounced “KUEHL-shrahngk,” with a clear ü sound like in “cute” and a strong ending -nk.

Kühlschrank is masculine, so it’s der Kühlschrank. The plural is die Kühlschränke. Struggling with gender? My gender video lesson makes it quick and visual.

It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and that’s no surprise: Germans use it constantly in both homes and restaurants.

Examples in all four cases:

Nominative:
Der Kühlschrank ist leer.
The fridge is empty.

Accusative:
Ich fülle den Kühlschrank jeden Samstag.
I fill the fridge every Saturday.

Dative:
Die Milch steht im Kühlschrank.
The milk is in the fridge.

Genitive:
Die Tür des Kühlschranks ist kaputt.
The fridge door is broken.

Real-World Tips for Learners

Kühlschrank is one of those words that’s fun to break down: it’s literally a cool-cupboard. It’s used just like “fridge” or “refrigerator” in English, and you’ll hear it constantly:

• etwas in den Kühlschrank stellen – to put something in the fridge

• der Kühlschrank ist voll / leer – the fridge is full / empty

• etwas ist im Kühlschrank – something is in the fridge

• der Kühlschrank brummt – the fridge is humming

You might also hear it in compound or idiomatic usage:
Mach den Kühlschrank nicht so lange auf! – Don’t leave the fridge open too long!

And in casual roommate talk:
Das gehört mir – steht im Kühlschrank! – That’s mine — it’s in the fridge!

Beginner dialogue using Kühlschrank:

A: Hast du noch Butter?
B: Ja, sie ist im Kühlschrank, ganz hinten.
A: Do you still have butter?
B: Yeah, it’s in the fridge, all the way in the back.

Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Kühlschrank.

“Was steht gerade in deinem Kühlschrank, das du vergessen hast?”
What’s in your fridge right now that you’ve forgotten about?

Say your answer out loud in German and include Kühlschrank in the sentence.

Duden entry for “Kühlschrank”

German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say fridge in German — and how der Kühlschrank helps anchor you in everyday, practical conversations.

Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and keep your vocabulary fresh and ready to use.

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