16 German Phrases to Talk about Weather and Seasons
The weather and seasons provide a great source of easy conversation. So get to know this list of German Weather and Seasons vocabulary and learn how to fill those awkward silences.
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The Four Seasons
Seasons change, reminding us all how little time we have left to study German.
“Spring” in German
der Frühling
When Spring starts blossoming, you will want to get outside and start speaking German. So get to know how to say “der Frühling”.
Here’s an example way to use it.
| Es ist der Frühlingsanfang. | It’s the beginning of Spring. |
| Frühling liegt in der Luft! | Spring is in the air! |
“Summer” in German
der Sommer
Summer is about hanging out with friends and relaxing. That’s why “der Sommer” is the best time of the year to show off your German speaking ability.
| Der Sommer, der ist da! | Summer is here! |
| Komm, wir gehen zum Strand! | Come, let’s go to the beach! |
“Fall” in German
der Herbst
Fall is a time for sweaters and pumpkin pie. It’s also the perfect weather for studying German.
| Der Herbst ist kühl. | Fall is cool. |
It definitely is, though. Right?
"Winter" in German
Winter
Nothing fancy here. Winter in German is also, well, "winter".
| Er fährt gern Ski im Winter. | He likes skiing in winter. |
The Different Kinds of Weather
What would any of us ever talk about if it wasn’t for the weather and seasons?
“How is the weather?” in German
Wie ist das wetter?
This phrase is pretty much the textbook definition of small talk. A great way to break the ice and start chatting. Here’s an example of how you would use it in conversations.
| “Wie ist das wetter?” | “How is the weather?” |
| “Das Wetter ist schön.” | “The weather is nice.” |
Get more here.
“It is cold” in German
Es ist kalt
When it is cold, make sure you tell everyone. Maybe speaking German will make you feel warmer, who knows?
| “Es ist kalt.” | “It is cold.” |
| “Zieh einen Mantel an.” | “Put on a coat.” |
“It is cloudy” in German
Es ist bewolkt
Where there are clouds, there is sometimes rain. Make sure you warn all your German friends.
| Es ist bewolkt. | It is cloudy. |
| Glauben Sie, es gibt Regen? | Do you think it will rain? |
“It is raining” in German
Es regnet
Don’t let yourself get caught outside without an umbrella. Make sure to study this phrase if you want to hear the warnings from those around you.
| Es regnet. | It is raining. |
| Ich brauche einen Regenschirm. | I need an umbrella. |
“It is windy” in German
Es ist windig
Sometimes the wind can pierce right through you and make you want to never leave your house. If you hear someone tell you “Es ist windig”, you might as well just stay inside and study this list.
| Es ist windig. | It is windy. |
| Ich gehe wieder schlafen. | I’m going back to sleep. |
What is the temperature?” in German
Wie viel Grad sind es?
When you want to know if it is even worth going outdoors today, ask the people around you this phrase.
| Wie viel Grad sind es? | What is the temperature? |
| Es ist vierundzwanzig Grad. | It is 24 degrees. |
It is hot” in German
Es ist heiß
You know when it is hot, everyone will start whimpering “Es ist ehiB” nonstop. You are probably better off knowing what they are saying. Or else you may start wondering why everyone is mumbling the same phrase under their breath and start to get paranoid.
| Wie ist das Wetter? | What is the weather like? |
| Es ist heiß! | It is hot! |
“It is sunny” in German
Es ist sonnig
When it is sunny, you start feeling happy and cheerful. When people start wondering why you have been so chipper all of a sudden, be sure to tell them “Es ist sonnig!”
| “Regnet es?” | “Is it raining?” |
| “Nein. Es ist sonnig.” | “No, It is sunny.” |
“It is humid” in German
Es ist schwul
Nothing is worse than a humid day. You should at least be able to talk about your misery with others.
| “Es ist schwul.” | “It is humid.” |
| “Schalten Sie die Klimaanlage ein.” | “Turn on the air conditioner.” |
“It is snowing” in German
Es schneit
A great phrase for when you see those first few snowflakes start to come down. If only the snow knew how to not overstay its welcome.
| “Ist es kalt?” | “Is it cold?” |
| “Ja, es schneit.” | “Yeah, it is snowing.” |
“Is it bad?” in German
Es ist schlecht?
When you want to know if it is even worth getting out of bed today, ask this question. You would probably rather stay in bed and study.
| “Es ist schlecht?” | “Is it bad?” |
| “Es ist schreckliches Wetter.” | “The weather is terrible.” |
“It is 24 Degrees” in German
Es ist vierundzwanzig Grad
A phrase for when you want to ask for the exact temperature. Just keep in mind, outside of the US, everyone uses Celsius. So prepare your phone’s converter in advance.
| “Wie viel Grad sind es?” | “What is the temperature?” |
| “It is 24 degrees.” | “It is 24 degrees.” |
Conclusion
Now you have the resources to talk about the weather and make some easy conversations. The next time you find yourself stuck inside on a stormy day, why not continue on your language adventures and read and listen to German stories instead?
A FUN AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO LEARN GERMAN
About the Author Charity Johnson
Charity Johnson is a third sector worker and former secondary teacher based in the Scottish Isles. Her blog, Archipelagal, is the (re)telling of her geographical and ideological whereabouts.
