French Weather Words
The French love to parler de la pluie et du beau temps — talk about the rain and the nice weather. Knowing how to discuss the weather in French is essential for small talk, travel, and understanding daily life. French uses three main patterns for weather: il fait + adjective/noun, il y a + noun, and il + verb. Master these patterns and you will never be stuck for conversation.
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Il fait + Adjective/Noun — General Conditions
The verb faire (to make/do) is the backbone of French weather expressions. This impersonal construction uses il fait followed by an adjective or noun to describe how the weather feels.
To intensify, add très (very): "Il fait très chaud" (it is very hot). For extreme emphasis, use extrêmement: "Il fait extrêmement froid" (it is extremely cold). Never use "beaucoup" with il fait — use très instead.
Il y a + Noun — Weather Phenomena
When something is present in the weather — wind, fog, clouds — French uses il y a (there is/there are).
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Weather Verbs — Il + Verbe
Some weather conditions have their own dedicated verbs. These use the impersonal il as subject and are only conjugated in the third person.
The verb pleuvoir (to rain) is irregular. Present: il pleut. Passé composé: il a plu (it rained). Imparfait: il pleuvait (it was raining). Futur: il pleuvra (it will rain).
Weather and Seasons
French connects weather tightly to its four seasons. Here are useful seasonal weather phrases:
- Au printemps, il fait doux — In spring, it is mild
- En été, il fait très chaud — In summer, it is very hot
- En automne, il pleut souvent — In autumn, it often rains
- En hiver, il neige — In winter, it snows
- La météo annonce du beau temps — The forecast predicts nice weather
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you ask about the weather in French?
The standard question is Quel temps fait-il ? (What weather does it make?) or more casually Il fait beau ? (Is it nice out?). You can also ask Il fait quel temps ? in informal conversation.
What is the difference between il fait and il y a for weather?
Il fait + adjective/noun describes general conditions: il fait chaud (it is hot), il fait beau (it is nice). Il y a + noun describes something present: il y a du vent (there is wind), il y a du brouillard (there is fog). Weather verbs use il alone: il pleut (it rains).
How do you say "it is raining" in French?
Say Il pleut (it is raining / it rains). For heavy rain: Il pleut des cordes (it is raining ropes — the French equivalent of "raining cats and dogs"). For drizzle: Il bruine (it is drizzling).
Do French people really talk about the weather a lot?
Yes, weather is a universal conversation starter in France. The French even have the expression parler de la pluie et du beau temps (to talk about the rain and the nice weather), which means to make small talk. Weather vocabulary is essential for everyday French conversation.
What are the French words for the four seasons?
The four seasons are le printemps (spring), l'été (summer), l'automne (autumn), and l'hiver (winter). Use "en" before most: en été, en automne, en hiver, but "au" for spring: au printemps.