167 wild & wonderful weather words in French, not to be mist

There is nothing like the weather to start a conversation — whether you want to warn your francophone friends to take their umbrella because it’s going to rain, or just make small talk with a vendor in a fruit and veggies store.

Complement your conversation with these useful ways to say hello in French!

Rain or shine, we have you covered — parasol or umbrella — with this extensive guide to weather in French!

Walking through the city on a rainy day with an umbrella in French.

How do you say “weather” in French?

“Weather” in French can be translated by “temps” or “météo”. Seems hard? Don’t sweat it, “temperature” is almost the same: “température”. And “climate” too: “climat”. So, chill!

This article on months and seasons in French may also come in handy!

How to talk about the weather in French

Would you like to learn useful phrases like How is the weather? in French? Et voilà !

Quel temps fait-il ?

What’s the weather like?

Quelles sont les prévisions météo pour ce weekend?

What’s the weather forecast for this weekend?

Il fait soleil mais la brise est fraîche.

It’s sunny but with a cool breeze.

Quelle température va-t-il faire aujourd’hui ?

What’s the temperature going to reach today?

Ils annoncent une température de seulement 5 degrés ce matin.

It’s looking like it will be as cold as 5 degrees this morning.

List of weather terms in French

If weather is your thing, you’re going to be on cloud nine. With our list of weather terms in French, French vocab learning is a breeze!

Everyday weather terms in French

Wonder how to say “It’s sunny” in French, or “it’s raining” in French? Before you move on to the tables below, here are a couple of examples for different tenses:

Camping on a  beautiful sunny morning is the perfect weather in French.

 EnglishFrench
Present tenseIt’s raining.Il pleut.
Past tenseIt rained yesterday.Il a plu hier.
Future tenseIt will rain next week.Il va pleuvoir la semaine prochaine.
Present tenseIt’s sunny.Il fait soleil.
Past tenseIt was sunny this morning.Il faisait soleil ce matin.
Future tenseIt will be sunny this weekend.Il fera soleil ce weekend.

Not to be mist, we’re sure you’ll find the below list of common weather terminology pretty useful if you’re watching the daily weather report, making smalltalk, or striking up conversations in French.

EnglishFrenchIPA
SunnyEnsoleilléɑ̃sɔlɛje
CloudyNuageuxnɥaʒø
RainyPluvieuxplyvjø
It’s rainingIl pleutil plø
It’s snowingIl neigeil nɛʒə
It’s hailingIl grêleil gɾɛlə
SleetGrésilgɾezil
WindyVentévɑ̃te
OvercastCouvertkuvɛɾ
FogBrouillardbɾwijaɾ
StormyOrageuxɔɾaʒø
Partly cloudyPartiellement nuageuxpaɾtjɛləmə nɥaʒø
Blue skyCiel bleusjɛl blø
PouringPluie diluvienneplɥjə dilyvjɛnə
Scattered showersAverses éparsesavɛɾsəz‿ epaɾsə
SunriseLever du soleilləve dy sɔlɛj
SunsetCoucher de soleilkuʃe də sɔlɛj
DuskCrépusculekɾepyskylə
DawnAubeobə

Extreme weather terms in French

Being able to talk about and understand extreme weather when abroad can be a lifesaver! Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating, but just in case, it’s wise to learn the terms below and read the examples in different tenses.

Thunder and lightening in French.

 EnglishFrench
Present tenseA hurricane is coming.Un ouragan arrive.
Past tenseThere was a hurricane yesterday.Il y a eu un ouragan hier.
Future tenseThere will be a hurricane tomorrow.Il va y avoir un ouragan demain.
Present tenseThere’s a heatwave now.C’est la canicule en ce moment.
Past tenseThere was a heatwave last week.C’était la canicule la semaine dernière.
Future tenseThere will be a heatwave this weekend.Ce sera la canicule ce week-end.

Now check out all the different vocabulary words for extreme weather events in French below. Hopefully you don’t have to use the majority of these words too much, although sadly, you might hear them on the news.

EnglishFrenchIPA
HurricaneOuraganuɾagɑ̃
CycloneCyclonesiklɔnə
Cold frontFront froidfɾõ fɾwa
HeatwaveCaniculekanikylə
FloodInondationinõdasjõ
TyphoonTyphontipõ
ThunderstormOrageɔɾaʒə
TornadoTornadetɔɾnadə
DownpourAverseavɛɾsə
ThunderTonnerretɔnɛrə
LightningFoudrefudɾə
WhiteoutVoile blancvwalə blɑ̃k
FrostGeléeʒəleə
DroughtSécheresseseʃəɾɛsə
AvalancheAvalancheavalɑ̃ʃə
Snow stormTempête de neigetɑ̃pɛtə də nɛʒə
DelugeDélugedelyʒə
Sand stormTempête de sabletɑ̃pɛtə də sablə

Talking about the temperature in French

As if Fahrenheit and Celsius degrees were not confusing enough — watch this video —, we’ve added even more vocab for you. It’s getting hot in here!

Two women talking about the temperature in French.

EnglishFrenchIPA
It’s hotIl fait chaudil fe ʃo
It’s coldIl fait froidil fe fɾwa
It’s wet outsideC'est humide dehorssɛ ymidə dəɔɾ
It’s nice outsideIl fait bon dehorsil fe bõ dəɔɾ
It’s humidC'est humidesɛ ymidə
It’s dryC'est secsɛ sɛk
It’s x degreesIl fait x degrésil fe ks dɛgɾe
It’s minus x degreesIl fait moins x degrésil fe mwɛ̃ ks dɛgɾe
CelsiusCelsiussɛlsjy
FahrenheitFahrenheitfaɾɛne
It’s freezingIl gèleil ʒɛlə
It’s very hotIl fait très chaudil fe tɾe ʃo
Room temperatureTempérature ambiantetɑ̃peɾatyɾ ɑ̃bjɑ̃tə
It’s chillyIl fait fraisil fe fɾe
It’s a lovely dayC'est une belle journéesɛt‿ ynə bɛlə ʒuɾneə
It’s warmIl fait bonil fe bõ
It’s below freezingLa température est en dessous de zérola tɑ̃peɾatyɾɛt‿ɑ̃dəsu də zeɾo
It’s scorching hotIl fait une chaleur torrideil fɛt‿ ynə ʃalœɾ tɔridə
The temperature roseLa température a montéla tɑ̃peɾatyɾ a mõte
The temperature droppedLa température a baisséla tɑ̃peɾatyɾ a b(e)se
It’s stiflingC’est étouffantkɛt‿ etufɑ̃
It’s oppressingC’est oppressantkɛt‿ ɔpɾɛsɑ̃

Other important weather terms in French

We’ve gathered other important weather-related words and phrases. If you’re not snowed under, check out these beautiful and cool French words, with a special section dedicated to nature.

A misty morning in French.

EnglishFrenchIPA
Weather forecastPrévisions météorologiques/météopɾevizjõ meteɔɾɔlɔʒikə/meteo
MeteorologyMétéorologiemeteɔɾɔlɔʒjə
Bad weatherMauvais tempsmove tɑ̃
Good weatherBeau tempsbo tɑ̃
Extreme weather eventÉvénement météorologique extrêmeevenəmə meteɔɾɔlɔʒik ɛkstɾɛmə
Climate changeChangement climatiqueʃɑ̃ʒəmə klimatikə
Global warmingRéchauffement de la planèteɾeʃofəmə də la planɛtə
Sea surface temperatureTempérature de surface de la mertɑ̃peɾatyɾə də syɾfasə də lamεɾ
Wind warningVent violentvə vjɔlə
SquallBourrasqueburaskə
ShowerAverseavɛɾsə
FlurryTourbillontuɾbijõ
GustRafaleɾafalə
PrecipitationPrécipitationspɾesipitatjõ
Atmospheric pressurePression atmosphériquepɾɛsjõn‿ atmɔspeɾikə
High pressureHaute pressionotə pɾɛsjõ
Low pressureBasse pressionbasə pɾɛsjõ
TroughDépressiondepɾɛsjõ
Warm frontFront chaudfɾõ ʃo
Wind directionDirection du ventdiɾɛksjõ dy və
RainbowArc-en-cielaɾkɑ̃-sjɛl
BlizzardBlizzardblizaɾ
SunshineSoleilsɔlɛj
MistBrumebɾymə
ClearClairklɛɾ
IceGlaceglasə
Unstable weather in March
(rain, sun, sleet)
Giboulées de marsʒibule də maɾ
DrizzleBruinebɾɥinə
BreezeBrisebɾizə
GaleGrand ventgɾɑ̃ və
ThermometerThermomètretɛɾmɔmɛtɾə
BarometerBaromètrebaɾɔmɛtɾə
CelsiusCelsiussɛlsjy
FahrenheitFahrenheitfaɾɛne
Air conditioningClimatisationklimatizasjõ
FlurriesRafalesɾafalə
FrostbiteEngelureɑ̃ʒəlyɾə
Heat strokeCoup de chaleurku də ʃalœɾ
SweatingTranspirationtɾɑ̃spiɾasjõ
MeteorologistMétéorologuemeteɔɾɔlɔgə
PuddleFlaque d'eauflakə do
RaindropGoutte de pluiegutə də plɥjə
SeasonSaisonsɛzõ
SmogSmogsmo
SunburnCoup de soleilku də sɔlɛj
SunglassesLunettes de soleillynɛtə də sɔlɛj
SuntanBronzagebɾõzaʒə
SunscreenCrème solaire/écran solairekɾɛmə sɔl(e)ɾɛ/ekɾɑ̃ sɔlɛɾə
UmbrellaParapluiepaɾaplɥjə
ParasolParasolpaɾazɔl
UVUVy
Wind chillRefroidissement éolienɾəfɾwadisəmət‿ eɔljɛ̃
Mild weatherTemps douxtɑ̃ duks
Changeable weatherTemps changeanttɑ̃ ʃɑ̃ʒɛɑ̃
SlushPluie-neigeplɥjə-nɛʒə
DrenchedTrempétɾɑ̃pe
ThunderclapCoup de tonnerreku də tɔnɛrə
Bolt of lightningÉclaireklɛɾ
HazeBrumebɾymə
DewRoséeɾozeə
WhirlwindTourbillontuɾbijõ
TideMaréemaɾeə
AirAirɛɾ
Air pollutionPollution de l'airpɔlysjõ də lɛɾ
Air massMasse d'airmasə dɛɾ
Air pressurePression de l'airpɾɛsjõ də lɛɾ
AuroraAuroreɔɾɔɾə
Northern lightsAurore boréaleɔɾɔɾə bɔɾealə
Southern lightsAurore australeɔɾɔɾ ostɾalə
CumulusCumuluskymyly
CumulonimbusCumulonimbuskymylɔnɛ̃by
CirrusCirrussiry
Beaufort wind scaleÉchelle de vent de Beauforteʃɛlə də və də bofɔɾ
CondensationCondensationkõdɑ̃sasjõ
Dew pointPoint de roséepwɛ̃ də ɾozeə
Greenhouse effectEffet de serreɛfe də sɛrə
HaloHaloalo
StalactitesStalactitesstalaktitə
StalactitesStalactitesstalaktitə
MonsoonMoussonmusõ
OzoneOzoneɔzɔnə
Snow levelNiveau de la neigenivo də la nɛʒə
StratosphereStratosphèrestɾatɔspɛɾə
TemperateTempérétɑ̃peɾe
TropicalTropicaletɾɔpikalə
SubtropicalSubtropicalesyptɾɔpikalə
ArcticArctiqueaɾktikə
TurbulenceTurbulencetyɾbylɑ̃sə
VaporVapeurvapœɾ
Cold spellCoup de froidku də fɾwa

Weather related expressions in French

Faire la pluie et le beau temps

  • Literal translation: To make the rain and the nice weather
  • Meaning: To call the shots

Pleuvoir des cordes

  • Literal translation: To rain ropes
  • Meaning: Pouring rain

Un froid de canard

  • Literal translation: A duck’s cold
  • Meaning: Very cold weather

Un temps de chien

  • Literal translation: A dog’s weather
  • Meaning: Bad weather

Un coup de foudre

  • Literal translation: A lightning bolt
  • Meaning: Love at first sight

Un vent à décorner les boeufs

  • Literal translation: A wind to blow off a bull’s horns
  • Meaning: A very strong wind

We know, that’s a downpour of vocab… If you’re looking for an easier way to learn the weather in French, listen to this song by Laurent Voulzy featuring clouds, sky, wind and more!

Quatre nuages

And by the way, if you’re under the weather and need to explain your situation, you might want to learn these anatomy words in French

Otherwise, keep expanding your brain and continue the fun on our free French vocabulary blog lessons.

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