This class is designed for an English-speaking audience learning Spanish, focusing on the weather—a universal topic perfect for breaking the ice in any conversation.
Key distinction: El tiempo vs. el clima
In English, “weather” often covers both daily conditions and long-term patterns. In Spanish, you must distinguish between them:
El tiempo: Refers to the specific state of the atmosphere at a given time and place (e.g., “The weather is rainy today”).
El clima: Describes the statistical or habitual meteorological behavior of a region over the long term (e.g., “The climate in Spain is Mediterranean”)
How to ask about the weather
There are several ways to initiate a weather-related conversation:
¿Qué tiempo hace? (How’s the weather?)
¿Cómo está el clima? (How is the weather/climate?)
¿Qué temperatura hace hoy? (What is the temperature today?)
¿Va a llover hoy? (Is it going to rain today?)
The 3 essential verbs: hacer, haber, and estar
Spanish does not use a single verb like the English “to be” (it is sunny) for weather. Instead, it uses three different verbs depending on what is being described:
| Verbo | Usage |
|---|---|
| Hacer | Used for temperatures and thermal sensations (what we feel). |
| Haber (Hay) | Used for visible atmospheric phenomena. |
| Estar | Used to describe the current state of the sky or actions in progress. |
Hace frío
It’s cold
Hace viento.
It’s windy
Está nublado
It’s cloudy
Hay tormenta
There’s a storm
Expressing personal feelings: A common trap
English speakers often make the mistake of saying “Soy frío” to mean “I am cold.” In Spanish, you use Tener (to have) for physical sensations:
“Tengo frío” or “Tengo calor” means “I am cold/hot”.
“Estoy resfriado” means “I have a cold” (the illness).
“Estoy congelado” or “Estoy helado” means “I am freezing”.
Colloquial expressions for intensity
To sound more like a native, use these common Spanish idioms for extreme weather:
Extreme Heat:
Hace un sol de justicia (blazing sun)
Hace un calor que te torras (toasting hot)
Hace un calor infernal (hotter than hell).
Extreme Cold:
Hace un frío que pela (freezing cold”)
Hace un frío que te mueres (deadly cold).
Heavy Rain:
Llueve a cántaros (pouring)
Está cayendo la del pulpo (raining cats and dogs)
Está lloviendo a mares.
Proverbs and cultural wisdom (Refranes)
Spanish culture has many weather-related sayings, often rooted in agricultural history:
“Hasta el cuarenta de mayo, no te quites el sayo”: Do not put away your sweater/tunic until June 9th (May 40th), as the cold can return unexpectedly.
“Al mal tiempo, buena cara”: Keep a positive attitude (a “good face”) even when things—or the weather—go wrong.
“En abril, aguas mil”: In April, it rains a lot (literally “a thousand waters”).
Figurative idioms
Many Spanish expressions use weather elements to describe people or situations:
Ser un sol
To be a wonderful, kind person (literally “to be a sun”).
Tenemos que meterle al curro si queremos terminar hoy.
We need to get to work if we want to finish today.
Estar en las nubes
To be distracted or daydreaming (literally “to be in the clouds”).
Tenemos que meterle al curro si queremos terminar hoy.
We need to get to work if we want to finish today.
Estar por las nubes
To be extremely expensive (literally “to be through the clouds”), or sometimes to be extremely happy.
Tenemos que meterle al curro si queremos terminar hoy.
We need to get to work if we want to finish today.
No dejar a alguien ni a sol ni a sombra
To not leave someone alone for a moment (literally “neither in sun nor shadow”).
Tenemos que meterle al curro si queremos terminar hoy.
We need to get to work if we want to finish today.
Exercise
Quiz
Answer all the questions and test what you’ve learnt.