Talking about la météo 

Talking about la météo

Nous sommes en juillet ! It's July! This is the hottest month in Geneva. The temperatures are not extremely high, but they are good enough to enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful landscapes. When you find someone in the park, by the lake or even in an elevator, you might hear these expressions:

  • Quelle chaleur ! 
  • Belle journée, n’est-ce pas ?
  • Oh là là, qu'est-ce qu'il fait chaud ici !

The weather is always an easy subject for small talk: everyone has an interest in it! Whether you are attending a networking event, a soirée with new friends or a business lunch with French speaking colleagues, commenting on la météo is always a useful ice-breaker.

Here is an overview of popular French weather vocabulary:

 Il fait + adjectif

A simple formula to express your thoughts on the weather. Easy-peasy!

  • Il fait beau / bon aujourd’hui ! (The weather is nice today!)
  • Il ne fait pas beau en ce moment. (The weather isn’t nice at the moment.)
  • Il fait (si) mauvais ! (The weather is (so) bad!)
  • Il fait (trop) chaud ! (It is (too) hot!)

 C’est + adjectif

Add a weather-related adjective to the verb to be and Bob’s your uncle!

  • C’est vraiment venteux aujourd’hui ! (It’s really windy today!)
  • C’était ensoleillé hier. (It was sunny yesterday.)
  • C’est légèrement nuageux ce matin. (It’s slightly cloudy this morning.)
  • C’est brumeux autour du lac. (It is foggy around the lake.)

Il + verbe / Il y a + nom

Asking about the weather in one’s home country is always a good way to show your interest and to learn something different about your colleagues, friends or new acquaintances.

  • Quel temps fait-il dans votre pays ? (What’s the weather like in your country?)
  • En été, il vente un peu et il y a du soleil. (In the summer, the wind blows a bit and it’s sunny.)
  • En automne, il pleut souvent et il y a du brouillard. (In the fall, it often rains and it’s foggy.)
  • En hiver, il gèle et il neige. (In the winter, it freezes and it snows.)
  • Au printemps, il y a beaucoup de belles fleurs. (In the spring, there are lots of beautiful flowers.)

And if you want to sound more like a native French speaker, try with these idioms:

  • Il fait un soleil de plombe ! (The sun is burning hot)
  • Il fait un temps de chien. (The weather is awful)
  • Il pleut des cordes. (It’s pouring!)
  • Trempé comme une soupe (soaked like a soup)

Now, vous êtes prêt à parler! You can avoid awkward silences and handle most small talk situations. Just start by using some of these expressions and talk up a storm!

Sonia - Prêt à Parler team

Sonia

Foreign languages have always been an important part of Sonia’s life. After getting her degree in Arts and Graphic Design and a Master’s Degree in Education, she moved from her country, Spain, to England where she has been living for the last ten years. She has worked in international schools and companies, and in 2013 she founded her own language school.

This journey has left her with countless life lessons that she feels privileged to have learned first hand. She truly believes that learning a language can change you in ways you probably don’t imagine, and she tries to transmit this message across Prêt à Parler social media by creating powerful images and meaningful content.

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