German Weather Vocabulary
Germans have a saying: Es gibt kein schlechtes Wetter, nur schlechte Kleidung — there is no bad weather, only bad clothing. This practical attitude toward weather is reflected in a rich vocabulary for every condition, from Sonnenschein to Schmuddelwetter. This guide covers the essential weather patterns using es ist + adjective, es + verb, and the compound weather words that make German so expressive.
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Es ist + Adjective — Weather Conditions
The most common way to describe weather in German is es ist (it is) followed by an adjective. This pattern covers temperature and general conditions.
Many German weather adjectives are formed by adding -ig to the noun: Sonne (sun) → sonnig (sunny), Wind → windig (windy), Nebel (fog) → neblig (foggy). Learning the noun automatically gives you the adjective.
Weather Verbs — Es + Verb
German has impersonal weather verbs that use es as the subject. These describe active weather events like rain, snow, and storms.
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Weather Nouns — Wetter-Nomen
German weather nouns come with their articles. Remember that German capitalizes all nouns.
German loves compound weather words: Regenbogen (rain + bow = rainbow), Sonnenschein (sun + shine = sunshine), Schneesturm (snow + storm = blizzard), Wettervorhersage (weather + forecast). The last noun determines the gender.
Weather Small Talk
Weather is a reliable conversation topic in German-speaking countries. Use these phrases:
- Schönes Wetter heute! — Nice weather today!
- Es soll morgen regnen — It is supposed to rain tomorrow
- Was für ein Sauwetter! — What terrible weather! (colloquial)
- Der Wetterbericht sagt... — The weather report says...
- Es wird bald besser — It will get better soon
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you ask about the weather in German?
The standard question is Wie ist das Wetter? (How is the weather?) or Wie wird das Wetter heute? (What will the weather be like today?). Casually, you might hear Schönes Wetter, oder? (Nice weather, right?) as a conversation starter.
What is the difference between es ist and es gibt for weather?
Es ist + adjective describes the condition: es ist kalt (it is cold), es ist sonnig (it is sunny). Es gibt + noun states something exists: es gibt Regen (there is rain), es gibt Gewitter (there are thunderstorms). Weather verbs use es alone: es regnet, es schneit.
What gender are German weather nouns?
Most weather nouns are masculine: der Regen (rain), der Schnee (snow), der Wind (wind), der Donner (thunder). Feminine exceptions include die Wolke (cloud), die Sonne (sun). Neuter: das Wetter (weather), das Gewitter (thunderstorm).
How do you say the four seasons in German?
The seasons are der Frühling (spring), der Sommer (summer), der Herbst (autumn), and der Winter (winter). Use "im" before each: im Frühling, im Sommer, im Herbst, im Winter.
What is "Schmuddelwetter"?
Schmuddelwetter is a very German word for nasty, grey, drizzly weather — the kind of damp, dreary day that is cold but not cold enough for snow. It perfectly captures the typical Northern German autumn and winter weather that is unpleasant without being dramatic.