Parler du temps … speaking about the weather
In every country, there is one topic which is guaranteed to make you chat : the weather.
Now, if you have been learning French but do not feel you posess enough vocabulary to really go into a little conversation about this topic with a local, I have created a little list of structures and words that should help you.
Il fait + adjective
Ex : Il fait + froid (cold) / frisquet (a bit cold) / chaud (hot) / beau (sunny) / mauvais (bad) / bon (the temperature is pleasant / gris (grey / sad) / venteux (windy) / orageux (thundery) / nuageux (cloudy).
Yes, I know. In English we say “it is cold / it is hot” but in France we say “it makes cold, it makes heat”. Careful to switch to “faire” as “être froid.e” means that you are being distant while “etre chaud.e” means that you are motivated or ready for a fight or ready for some “fun” with your lover!
Il y a + noun (something)
Ex: Il y a + des nuages (some clouds), du vent (some wind), de l’orage (some thunder), du soleil (some sun), des éclaircies (sun peering through), du verglas (black ice), une rafale de vent (strong wind)
This one is very easy, you are simply describing what you are seeing while talking. You can also use “il y aura” followed by the same words to talk about what you saw on the weather forecast.
C’est + something
Ex: c’est + la canicule (heatwave) / c’est le cagnard (very strong heat) / c’est la tempête / c’est nuageux…
Expressions:
There are a few expressions that we can use when discussing the weather. Being from the Ile-de-France region I have listed the ones that I am familiar with and that I would use myself. However, I am sure there are many more being used all around the country and in other french speaking nations which I do not know. If you are aware of others, do leave a comment below!
Il fait un temps de chien (Litterally : this weather is for dogs) : meaning that the weather is awful
Il fait un froid de canard ( litterally the cold weather is for ducks) : meaning it is freezing.
–> ça caille! – also meaning that it is freezing but in a more familiar way.
Il pleut des cordes / il pleut averse – is raining cats and dogs or stair rods.
Il tombe de la neige – the snow is falling.
Le vent souffle – the wind is blowing.
I hope you will have found this list of structures and expressions useful and that they’ll help you on your next French conversation on the weather 🙂
A bientôt!