German word of the day: Klimaanlage

Why do I need to know Klimaanlage?

Whether you're renting a new apartment or searching (desperately) for a cool café to work this summer, you'll probably want to ask about the Klimaanlage. 

While this device is not traditionally used in Germany, the effects of global warming are forcing a cultural rethink. 

What does it mean?

As you may have guessed, die Klimaanlage (pronounced like this) is the German term for air conditioning. Made up of the words Klima (climate) and Anlage (system or unit), it literally translates as a climatising - or cooling - system.

Though temperatures in Germany regularly soar well above 30 degrees Celsius in summer, foreign residents may have noticed that Germans rarely have a Klimaanlage installed. Instead, the stoic Germans often sweat it out indoors with the windows and curtains closed, or hover a few inches away from a Ventilator (fan) all day.

Indeed, since workplaces in Germany can get so hot on sweltering days, workers are often entitled to what's known as Hitzefrei - meaning a day off, or a day of home office, when the mercury rises too high.

EXPLAINED:

Many regard air conditioning with some level of suspicion, believing it to be an unnecessary American-style luxury.

However, as 40C days become a standard part of the German summer,. Indeed, between 2019 and 2024, demand for air conditioning and other cooling systems rose by an astounding 75 percent.

Temperatures are rising fast in Northern Europe: according to a recent ClimaMeter analysis, Germany was two to four degrees hotter this June than in an equivalent month in the late 20th century.

But as fast as the world is heating up, it may take a while for attitudes to the Klimaanlage to catch up.

Use it like this: 

Kannst du bitte die Klimaanlage einschalten?

Can you please turn on the air conditioning? 

Ist diese Wohnung mit einer Klimaanlage ausgestattet?

Is this apartment equipped with air conditioning?