how to say weather in french

Daniel Parker

2 min read

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11-01-2025

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Knowing how to discuss the weather is a fundamental skill in any language. It's a great conversation starter and a practical way to connect with French speakers. This comprehensive guide will equip you with the vocabulary and sentence structures you need to confidently talk about the weather in French.

Common Weather Terms in French

Let's start with the basics. Here's a list of common French words for different weather conditions:

Note: The feminine forms (ending in "-e") are used for feminine nouns like "journée" (day).

Describing the Weather in French: Sentence Structures

Now that you have some vocabulary, let's learn how to put it all together. Here are some common sentence structures:

Simple Sentences:

• Il fait…: This translates to "It is…" and is the most common way to describe the weather.

  • Il fait beau. (It's nice weather.)
  • Il fait chaud. (It's hot.)
  • Il fait froid. (It's cold.)
  • Il fait mauvais. (It's bad weather.)
  • Il fait du soleil. (It's sunny.) - Note the use of "du" before "soleil"

More Descriptive Sentences:

To add more detail, use these phrases:

• Il y a…: This translates to "There is…"

  • Il y a du soleil. (There is sunshine.)
  • Il y a du vent. (There is wind.)
  • Il y a des nuages. (There are clouds.)

• Il pleut…: It's raining. (Can also be used with adjectives like "beaucoup" for "It's raining heavily")

Asking About the Weather in French

Here are some ways to ask about the weather in French:

• Quel temps fait-il ? (What's the weather like?) This is the most common question.
• Comment est le temps ? (How is the weather?) A slightly more formal option.
• Il fait beau aujourd'hui ? (Is it nice weather today?) A more specific question.

Advanced Weather Vocabulary and Phrases

Let's delve into some more nuanced expressions:

• Une tempête: A storm
• Un orage: A thunderstorm
• De la pluie: Rain
• Du vent: Wind
• De la neige: Snow
• Du soleil: Sunshine
• Un ciel bleu: A blue sky
• Un ciel gris: A grey sky
• Il neige: It's snowing.
• Il pleut des cordes: It's raining cats and dogs. (Literal translation is "It's raining ropes.")
• Il gèle: It's freezing.

Practicing Your French Weather Skills

The best way to learn is by practicing! Try describing the weather in French to a friend, or write a short paragraph about the current weather conditions. You can also watch French-language weather reports online or on television to get used to hearing the vocabulary and phrases in context.

By incorporating these vocabulary words and sentence structures into your conversations, you'll be well on your way to confidently discussing the weather—and so much more—in French. Bon courage! (Good luck!)