noun Uncommon

Cologne

kuh-LOHN

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Cologne (noun) means a light, fragrant liquid, weaker than perfume, used to give a pleasant scent to the skin. Example: “He splashed on some cologne before heading out for the evening.”

noun

A light, fragrant liquid, weaker than perfume, used to give a pleasant scent to the skin.

"He splashed on some cologne before heading out for the evening."

"The store's men's section was thick with the smell of cologne."

How to use Cologne

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA mild fragranced liquid, often marketed toward men, worn to smell nice.

UK vs US

In everyday use, "cologne" is often associated with men's fragrance while "perfume" is associated with women's, though the terms mainly differ by concentration of oils.

Common pairings

spray cologne a bottle of cologne men's cologne

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: colognes
Third person singular: colognes
Past tense: cologned

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He splashed on some _____ before heading out for the evening.

Etymology

Named after the German city of Cologne, where this style of citrus-based fragrance was first developed in the early 1700s.

Origin: German · First attested 1700

Class of 1700 Cologne joined the language around 1700.

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Synonyms

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scent fragrance aftershave toilet water eau de Cologne

Related words

wind nose smell perfume scent fragrance stink sweetness

Frequently asked questions

What does “Cologne” mean?

The word “Cologne” means a light, fragrant liquid, weaker than perfume, used to give a pleasant scent to the skin. In plain terms, a mild fragranced liquid, often marketed toward men, worn to smell nice.

How do you pronounce “Cologne”?

“Cologne” is pronounced kuh-LOHN (/kəˈloʊn/ in IPA).

How do you use “Cologne” in a sentence?

Here is “Cologne” used in a sentence: “He splashed on some cologne before heading out for the evening.”

What is another word for “Cologne”?

Words with a similar meaning to “Cologne” include eau de Cologne.

What part of speech is “Cologne”?

“Cologne” is a noun.

Where does the word “Cologne” come from?

The word “Cologne” dates back to around 1700 and comes from German. Named after the German city of Cologne, where this style of citrus-based fragrance was first developed in the early 1700s.

Is “Cologne” a common word?

“Cologne” is an uncommon word in modern English.

What is the difference between cologne and perfume?

Cologne is a light, fragrant liquid that is weaker than perfume, meaning it has a lower concentration of fragrance oils and a more subtle, shorter-lasting scent. Perfume contains a higher concentration of scent oils, making it stronger and longer-lasting on the skin.

Why is 'cologne' sometimes capitalized?

'Cologne' is capitalized because it derives from the German city of Cologne, where the fragrance eau de Cologne was originally created. The lowercase 'cologne' is now commonly used generically for any light fragrant liquid of this type.

Is cologne only worn by men?

Traditionally cologne has been marketed toward men while perfume is marketed toward women, but this reflects marketing convention rather than any strict rule, since cologne is simply a lighter, weaker fragrance than perfume by concentration.

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