Spanish Weather Phrases

This free audio lesson is all about Spanish weather phrases. If you find yourself with nothing left to say to your new Spanish-speaking friends, you can always talk about the weather.

Imagine that you are on the phone to a friend in Spain and want to ask what the weather is like over there. There are two ways that you can do so. You can ask:

  • ¿Qué tiempo hace?

Or, you can ask:

  • ¿Cómo está el tiempo?

In fact, there are a variety of phrases you can use, including, ¿Cómo está el clima? How’s the weather/climate? and ¿Cómo está por afuera? What’s it like outside?.

The first two phrases are the most common, however. Both are interchangeable, but when you respond, you will have to decide whether to use one of two verbs: hacer and estar.

Resources for further reading:

All about Spanish weather phrases

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¿Qué tiempo hace?

What's the weather like?

Hace mucho frío.

It's very cold.

¿Cómo está el tiempo?

How's the weather?

Está lloviendo.

It's raining.

You are going to have to memorize the conditions in which you use “hace” as opposed to “está”. Below are some common weather conditions in Spanish to help you.

To emphasize a weather condition (in other words, add a “very” in front), you will use “mucho” for “hace” and “muy” for “está.” For example:

  • Hace mucho calor. - It’s very hot.
  • Está muy bueno. - It’s very nice.

However, if the word following “está” is a verb (such as lloviendo or nevando), you cannot use “muy.” You will have to add a “mucho” after the verb.

  • Está lloviendo mucho. - It’s raining a lot.

More Spanish weather phrases

¿Cómo está el clima?

How's the weather?

Hace mucho frio.

It's very cold.

¿Qué tiempo hace?

What's the weather like?

Está nevando mucho.

It's snowing a lot.

¿Cómo está por afuera?

What's it like outside?

Hace mucho viento.

It's very windy.

¿Cómo está el tiempo?

How's the weather?

Está muy despejado.

It's very clear.

Why not check out some more lessons on Spanish phrases next? Here are some recommended lessons:

See you soon! ¡Hasta pronto!

Mauricio Evlampieff: Rocket Spanish

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