Spanish Weather Vocabulary Quick Guide

Weather vocabulary is one of the fastest ways to start communicating in Spanish. With a small set of nouns, adjectives and verbs you can make small talk, follow forecasts and navigate travel situations confidently. This guide focuses on practical vocabulary, brief grammar notes and short practice activities you can use right away.

Spanish Weather Vocabulary Quick Guide

Read the quick word lists, try the short practice lines and follow the 7-day plan to internalize words. When you want speaking feedback, try guided roleplay sessions and pronunciation practice with Kippy for targeted improvement.

Quick Spanish Weather Word List (Spanish)

A grouped, scannable list helps fast memorization and flashcard creation. Use this weather spanish vocabulary list as a pocket reference for forecasts, conversations and travel. The entries below include the Spanish term, a one-word English equivalent and a short usage note when useful — perfect to add to your personal phrasebook .

Nouns (Sustantivos)

Core weather nouns you’ll hear in forecasts and conversations; listed Spanish — English — short note (gender).

Spanish
el sol
English
sun
Note (gender)
(m)
Spanish
la lluvia
English
rain
Note (gender)
(f)
Spanish
la nieve
English
snow
Note (gender)
(f)
Spanish
la tormenta
English
storm
Note (gender)
(f)
Spanish
la niebla
English
fog
Note (gender)
(f)
Spanish
el viento
English
wind
Note (gender)
(m)
Spanish
la nube
English
cloud
Note (gender)
(f)
Spanish
el pronóstico
English
forecast
Note (gender)
(m)
Spanish
la temperatura
English
temperature
Note (gender)
(f)

Adjectives (Adjetivos)

Common descriptive words used with estar or hacer; Spanish — English — usage note.

Spanish
soleado
English
sunny
Usage note
(está soleado)
Spanish
nublado
English
cloudy
Usage note
(está nublado)
Spanish
caluroso
English
hot
Usage note
(hace calor)
Spanish
frío
English
cold
Usage note
(hace frío)
Spanish
húmedo
English
humid
Usage note
(está húmedo)
Spanish
ventoso
English
windy
Usage note
(está ventoso)

Verbs (Verbos)

Action verbs you’ll hear in forecasts or conversations; infinitives are shown with English equivalents and a short example.

Spanish
llover
English
to rain
Example
(va a llover)
Spanish
nevar
English
to snow
Example
(está nevando)
Spanish
soplar
English
to blow (wind)
Example
(sopla mucho)
Spanish
relampaguear
English
to lightning
Example
(relampaguea)
Spanish
tronar
English
to thunder
Example
(truena)

Other Useful Short Phrases

Short set phrases and measurements that appear in forecasts: Spanish — English — comment.

Phrase
hace buen tiempo
English
it's nice out
Comment
general
Phrase
hay niebla
English
there is fog
Comment
impersonal
Phrase
está lloviendo
English
it's raining
Comment
progressive
Phrase
va a mejorar
English
it's going to improve
Comment
prediction
Phrase
chubascos
English
showers
Comment
short heavy rains

The Four Seasons And Seasonal Phrases In Spanish

Season names are essential for describing typical weather and planning activities. Remember the article plus gender: la primavera, el verano, el otoño, el invierno. Below are short model sentences that show typical conditions and regional notes about hemispheres.

Primavera (Spring)

La primavera is often milder with occasional rain. Use these sample sentences to describe typical spring weather.

En primavera llueve a veces y hace buen tiempo otros días.

En primavera llueve a veces.

In spring it sometimes rains.

Por la mañana suele haber niebla.

In the morning there is usually fog.

Otros días hace buen tiempo y sale el sol.

On other days the weather is nice and the sun comes out.

Verano (Summer)

El verano tends to be hot and sunny in many places, though coastal areas may get breezes in the afternoon.

En verano hace mucho calor y hay días soleados.

En verano hace mucho calor.

In summer it’s very hot.

Los días suelen ser soleados y largos.

The days are usually sunny and long.

Por la tarde puede soplar viento en la costa.

In the afternoon, wind can blow along the coast.

Otoño (Autumn/Fall)

El otoño brings cooling temperatures, more wind and rain in many regions.

En otoño hace viento y caen las hojas; a veces hay niebla.

En otoño hace viento y llueve con frecuencia.

In autumn it is windy and it rains often.

Caen las hojas de los árboles.

Leaves fall from the trees.

Por las mañanas a veces hay niebla.

In the mornings there is sometimes fog.

Invierno (Winter)

El invierno can be cold and snowy in many areas. Note that seasons are reversed between hemispheres.

En invierno puede nevar y hace frío por la noche.

En invierno hace frío y a veces nieva.

In winter it’s cold and sometimes it snows.

Por la noche suele helar.

At night it usually freezes.

En la montaña hay mucha nieve.

There is a lot of snow in the mountains.

How to Use Spanish Weather Adjectives, Nouns And Verbs

Knowing whether to use estar, hay or a verb is key to sounding natural. Below are common patterns and short examples you can reuse in speech.

Adjectives With Estar

Use estar + adjective for temporary conditions that describe how the sky or place is now. Remember adjective agreement when modifying a noun: el día soleado, las tardes frías.

Está nublado.

It’s cloudy.

El cielo está despejado y azul.

The sky is clear and blue.

La tarde está húmeda.

The afternoon is humid.

Nouns With Hay

Use hay (impersonal ‘there is/are’) to state the existence of weather phenomena. Hay does not change form for gender or number in Spanish.

Hay niebla en el valle.

There is fog in the valley.

Hay una tormenta esta noche.

There is a storm tonight.

Hay muchas nubes en el horizonte.

There are many clouds on the horizon.

Verbs For Actions (llover, nevar, soplar)

Use verbs to describe ongoing or future actions. Many precipitation verbs are used impersonally in third person.

Está lloviendo ahora.

It’s raining now.

Va a nevar mañana en las montañas.

It’s going to snow tomorrow in the mountains.

Sopla mucho viento en la costa.

It’s very windy on the coast.

Spanish Weather Key Grammar: When To Use Hacer, Estar And Haber

Hacer, estar and haber each cover different common weather expressions. Learn the typical uses to avoid confusion.

Using Hacer

Hacer is used for general conditions, especially temperature and some time-weather phrases. Use hace + noun like hace calor or hace frío. You can add adverbs: hace mucho calor.

Hace calor hoy.

It’s hot today.

Hace viento en la costa.

It’s windy on the coast.

Hace mucho frío por la noche.

It’s very cold at night.

Using Estar

Estar + adjective describes how the sky or place currently is. Use it for short, describable states like está soleado or está húmedo.

Está soleado esta mañana.

It’s sunny this morning.

Está nublado y parece que va a llover.

It’s cloudy and it looks like it’s going to rain.

La plaza está húmeda después de la lluvia.

The square is wet after the rain.

Using Haber / Hay

Use hay to say ‘there is/are’ for fog, storms, clouds and quantities. Hay is impersonal and keeps the same form regardless of gender or number in the phrase.

Example phrase
Hace calor
Literal analysis
(hacer + noun phrase)
Natural translation
It's hot
Example phrase
Está soleado
Literal analysis
(estar + adjective)
Natural translation
It's sunny
Example phrase
Hay tormenta
Literal analysis
(haber = there is)
Natural translation
There's a storm

How To Ask And Answer About The Weather in Spanish

Simple question and answer templates let you handle small talk and practical planning. Use these memorized lines to start conversations.

Common Questions

Short question forms to use when you want a quick update.

¿Qué tiempo hace hoy?

What’s the weather like today?

¿Va a llover esta tarde?

Is it going to rain this afternoon?

¿Hace frío en la ciudad?

Is it cold in the city?

¿Está nublado ahora?

Is it cloudy now?

Short, Natural Replies

Quick replies that sound natural in conversation. Start with Sí or No when needed and add a brief time marker.

Hace sol.

It’s sunny.

Está nublado.

It’s cloudy.

Sí, va a llover esta tarde.

Yes, it’s going to rain this afternoon.

No, parece que mejora.

No, it seems to be getting better.

Polite Small Talk

Keep conversations friendly with short phrases that invite agreement or empathy.

Hace un día bonito, ¿no?

It’s a nice day, isn’t it?

Qué calor hace hoy.

It’s so hot today.

Ojalá que deje de llover pronto.

I hope it stops raining soon.

Useful Idioms And Everyday Weather Expressions

Idioms make speech sound more native. Learn a handful with literal and natural translations, plus a note on register.

Hoy llueve a cántaros; mejor quedarse en casa.

It’s raining cats and dogs today; better stay at home.

Hace un tiempo de perros para salir a la calle.

The weather is terrible for going outside.

Veo nubes en el horizonte, puede cambiar el pronóstico.

I see clouds on the horizon; the forecast may change.

List Of Idioms

Common idioms with literal and natural translations and a one-line note on use.

Spanish idiom
llover a cántaros
Literal translation
to rain from pitchers
Natural meaning/use
to rain heavily
Spanish idiom
hace un tiempo de perros
Literal translation
it's dog weather
Natural meaning/use
very bad weather
Spanish idiom
sacar un día
Literal translation
to take a day out
Natural meaning/use
to have a nice day out
Spanish idiom
hasta que las ranas críen pelo
Literal translation
until frogs grow hair
Natural meaning/use
never
Spanish idiom
nubes en el horizonte
Literal translation
clouds on the horizon
Natural meaning/use
signs of trouble
Spanish idiom
llover sobre mojado
Literal translation
to rain on wet
Natural meaning/use
to make a bad situation worse

Spanish Pronunciation Tips For Common Pitfalls

Focus on a few sounds that often cause trouble and use short drills to make progress. Try speaking practice with a partner or an AI tutor to get feedback.

Consonant Sounds: rr, ll, j

Practice rolling rr and deciding how to pronounce ll (y or ʎ depending on accent). The j sound is like English h in many dialects.

El carro corre rápido por la carretera.

The car speeds down the road.

La lluvia llena las calles.

The rain fills the streets.

Jorge juega bajo la lluvia.

Jorge plays in the rain.

Stress And Multisyllabic Words

Mark the stressed syllable on words like pronóstico and temperatura. Say the word slowly, then at normal speed.

El pronóstico dice lluvia para mañana.

The forecast calls for rain tomorrow.

La temperatura máxima será de veinte grados.

The high will be twenty degrees.

La tormenta llegó de repente.

The storm arrived suddenly.

Short Drills And Kippy Suggestion

Suggested drills: repeat 10 weather words aloud, read a short forecast and then ask Kippy to roleplay a local giving a forecast and request pronunciation feedback . Kippy can offer immediate pronunciation evaluation and roleplay scenarios suited for intermediate and advanced learners.

Pronóstico: lluvia por la mañana y sol por la tarde.

Forecast: rain in the morning and sun in the afternoon.

Diez palabras: sol, lluvia, viento, nieve, niebla, tormenta, calor, frío, húmedo, seco.

Ten words: sun, rain, wind, snow, fog, storm, heat, cold, humid, dry.

Mini Dialogues And Sample Sentences

Short dialogues reuse vocabulary and grammar from earlier sections. Use these for roleplay and speaking practice.

At A Café (Small Talk)

Two-line exchange about the weather to practice Qué tiempo hace and Hace buen/mal tiempo.

¿Qué tiempo hace hoy?

What’s the weather like today?

Hace buen tiempo y está soleado.

The weather is nice and sunny.

Asking A Local For Advice

Short dialogue asking if it’s safe to hike; practices va a llover and mejor no.

¿Va a llover hoy? Quiero hacer la excursión.

Is it going to rain today? I want to go on the excursion.

Mejor no, parece que va a llover y hará viento.

Better not; it looks like it’s going to rain and it will be windy.

Hotel Front Desk — Forecast

Guest asks about tomorrow’s weather; clerk gives a short forecast using va a and estará.

¿Cómo estará el tiempo mañana?

What will the weather be like tomorrow?

Mañana estará nublado por la mañana y mejorará por la tarde.

Tomorrow it will be cloudy in the morning and will improve in the afternoon.

Taxi Driver / Quick Comment

Driver comments on heavy rain using está lloviendo a cántaros and passenger reacts.

Está lloviendo a cántaros.

It’s pouring.

¡Qué lluvia! Esperemos a que pare un poco.

What rain! Let’s wait for it to stop a little.

7-Day Practice Plan And Study Aids

A focused weekly plan mixes passive review and active speaking. Follow the schedule below and adjust intensity to your level.

Daily Schedule Overview

  • Days 1–2: Learn core word lists and make flashcards for 30–40 items.
  • Days 3–4: Listening drills and pronunciation practice.
  • Days 5–6: Roleplay dialogues and produce short forecasts out loud.
  • Day 7: Review and a mini-test: write and speak a short forecast.

Tools And Short Tasks

Use flashcards, 5–10 minute audio forecast listening, short writing and 5-minute speaking practice with Kippy for feedback. For extra resources, check our roundup of best apps to learn Spanish . Aim for short, consistent sessions.

Hoy hay nubes por la mañana y sol por la tarde.

Today there are clouds in the morning and sun in the afternoon.

Mañana va a nevar en la sierra.

Tomorrow it’s going to snow in the mountains.

La máxima será de veinticinco grados y la mínima de diez.

The high will be twenty-five degrees and the low ten.

Final takeaway

Weather vocabulary gives you immediate returns: you can ask, understand and respond in everyday situations after a few focused sessions. Use the cheat-sheet daily, follow the 7-day plan and get targeted speaking feedback from Kippy to speed up your pronunciation and roleplay skills. Keep practicing a little each day and you will notice steady improvement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are 5 weather expressions in Spanish?

Hace calor (It’s hot), Hace frío (It’s cold), Está soleado (It’s sunny), Está nublado (It’s cloudy), Está lloviendo (It’s raining).

Common words: el clima (weather), el tiempo (weather/time), la lluvia (rain), la nieve (snow), el viento (wind), la niebla (fog), el sol (sun), las nubes (clouds), la tormenta (storm).

What's the best way to learn seasonal vocabulary in Spanish?

Use spaced repetition flashcards, label items around your home, read short seasonal texts and practice speaking aloud; for speaking practice, roleplay seasons and weather with Kippy, an AI tutor that evaluates pronunciation and offers conversation prompts.

What are the 4 seasons in Spanish?

Primavera (spring), Verano (summer), Otoño (autumn/fall), Invierno (winter).

How do you ask "What's the weather like?" in Spanish?

Puedes decir: “¿Qué tiempo hace?” or “¿Cómo está el clima?” — practice saying these aloud with Kippy to improve pronunciation and natural intonation.

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