Weather & Climate

1. Il fait chaud aujourd'hui, n'est-ce pas ?

   It's hot today, isn't it?

   Usage

   Classic French weather conversation opener

   Grammar Note

   French weather uses "il fait + adjective" or "il + verb" impersonal constructions

2. On dirait qu'il va pleuvoir

   It looks like it will rain

   Usage

   Used when clouds gather and rain seems likely

   Grammar Note

   "On dirait que" uses the conditional for inference. "Il va + infinitive" marks near future

3. Une tempête approche

   A storm is approaching

   Usage

   Warning when a storm is approaching

   Grammar Note

   "Tempête" is feminine. The present tense can express ongoing movement

4. Il fait frais aujourd'hui, n'est-ce pas ?

   It's cool today, isn't it?

   Usage

   Used on cool days

   Grammar Note

   "Frais" means "cool", "fresh", and "crisp" — a versatile adjective

5. Pouvez-vous me dire les prévisions météo ?

   Please tell me the weather forecast

   Usage

   Politely ask about the weather forecast

   Grammar Note

   "Pouvez-vous" is a polite request. "Météo" is short for "météorologie" (meteorology)

6. Ai-je besoin de crème solaire ?

   Do I need sunscreen?

   Usage

   Ask before going out under the strong summer sun

   Grammar Note

   "Crème solaire" literally means "sun cream". "Besoin" is used in "avoir besoin de" (to need)

7. Devrais-je emporter un parapluie ?

   Should I bring an umbrella?

   Usage

   Check whether to carry an umbrella when rain is possible

   Grammar Note

   "Parapluie" derives from "pluie" (rain). "Devrais" is conditional for polite obligation

8. Quand est la saison sèche ?

   When is the dry season?

   Usage

   Ask about the dry season when planning travel

   Grammar Note

   "Sèche" is the feminine form of "sec" (dry). "Saison" (season) is feminine

9. Quand est la saison des pluies ?

   When is the rainy season?

   Usage

   Ask about the rainy season when planning travel

   Grammar Note

   "Des pluies" = "de" + "les pluies" (of the rains); "des" is the contraction of the preposition "de" and the plural article "les"

10. Le soleil est vraiment fort aujourd'hui

    The sun is really strong

    Usage

    Describe the strong summer sun in France

    Grammar Note

    "Fort" is versatile meaning "strong/loud/powerful". "Soleil" (sun) is masculine

11. la pluie

    Rain

    Usage

    Point to this when checking the weather or asking about the forecast

12. la neige

    Snow

    Usage

    Point to this when checking the weather or asking about the forecast

13. le vent

    Wind

    Usage

    Point to this when checking the weather or asking about the forecast

14. ensoleillé

    Sunny

    Usage

    The word used on weather forecasts; point to it to ask whether it will be sunny

    Grammar Note

    An adjective; as a noun, fine weather is "le beau temps"

15. nuageux

    Cloudy

    Usage

    The word used on weather forecasts; point to it to ask whether it will be cloudy

    Grammar Note

    An adjective; the feminine form is "nuageuse"

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