Word
cologne
US/kəˈɫoʊn/
UK/kəlˈəʊn/
In Japanese
Cologne (Germany)
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. All sources.
Definitions
01personal fragrance
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a liquid with a pleasant smell that you put on your skin to smell good.
n. a scented liquid consisting of alcohol and various essential oils, typically with a lower concentration of fragrance than perfume.
“He applied a little cologne to his neck before going out to dinner.”
“The department store features an extensive collection of designer colognes, ranging from traditional citrus blends to modern woody scents.”
Usage
Often used as an uncountable noun.
Teaching tip
In modern American English, 'cologne' is often used specifically for men's scents, while 'perfume' is used for women's.
02the city in Germany
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a large, famous city in western Germany located on the Rhine River.
n. the largest city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, known for its Gothic cathedral and as the origin of the fragrance.
“We spent three days in Cologne visiting the famous cathedral.”
“Cologne serves as a major cultural and economic hub in western Germany, attracting millions of tourists to its annual carnival celebrations.”
Usage
Always capitalized as a proper noun.
Teaching tip
Learners should note that the German name for the city is 'Köln'.
Synonyms
03to apply scent
C2 · Proficiency Literary
v. to put cologne on yourself or something else so it smells nice.
v. to apply cologne to a person or object for the purpose of scenting.
“The barber cologned the customer's face after the shave.”
“The air in the dressing room was heavily cologned, thick with the competing scents of several different floral extracts.”
Usage
This verb is transitive and requires an object.
Teaching tip
This verbal use is quite rare in modern conversation; 'put on' or 'apply' is much more common.
Etymology
From Middle English Coloyne, from Old French Cologne, from Latin Colōnia Agrippīna (“Agrippine Colony”), a settlement named after Agrippina, the mother of Roman Emperor Nero; colōnia (“colony”) comes from colōnus (“farmer; colonist”), from verb colo, colere (“till, cultivate, worship”). Doublet of Colonia, colony, and Köln, from German.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 2
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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