Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Schlechtwetter | neuter | |
| Hundewetter | neuter | |
| Sauwetter | /ˈzaʊ̯ˌvɛtɐ/ | neuter |
| Schietwetter | Northern Germany, neuter |
These terms are used to describe undesirable weather conditions. Unwetter refers to severe or stormy weather, Starker Regen is heavy rain, Platzregen is a downpour and Schüttregen is torrential rain. Other common phenomena include Nieselregen (drizzle), Der Regenschauer (rain shower), Gewitter (thunderstorm), Windböen (gusts of wind), Böiger Wind (blustery wind), Schneesturm (snowstorm), Blizzard (blizzard), Gefrierender Regen (freezing rain) and Schneeregen (sleet).
What does it mean word for word?
Sauwetter literally translates to "pig weather".
Which one should you use?
Hundewetter and Sauwetter are used colloquially to describe unpleasant, rainy or stormy weather. Schietwetter is a regional term.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Mieses Wetter is an informal way to describe bad weather. Hundewetter and Sauwetter are colloquial expressions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Austria, Schlechtwetter is frequently used to refer to bad weather. Schietwetter is a regional term used specifically in Northern Germany.
How does it change in a sentence?
All the provided forms for bad weather are neuter nouns.
Did you know?
- The phrase Hundewetter shares a conceptual root with the French 'temps de chien' and the Italian 'tempo da cani', showing a pan-European tradition of blaming dogs for the rain.
- A German speaker might describe a rainstorm as a Platzregen, which literally translates to 'place rain', describing a downpour that hits a specific spot.
- In Northern Germany, Schietwetter is often used with a sense of stoic resignation, reflecting the maritime culture of the coast.
Examples in context
- Im Radio gab eine Schlechtwetterwarnung.The radio gave a warning of bad weather.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use the term in the context of a radio warning.Tatoeba #1605912 by Esperantostern, translation #29770 by al_ex_an_der
Example conversation
Julia and Julian are deciding whether to go for a walk.
- JuliaGehen wir heute spazieren?Are we going for a walk today?
- JulianNein, bei diesem Schlechtwetter bleibe ich lieber zu Hause.No, with this bad weather I prefer to stay at home.
- JuliaDu hast recht, es regnet sehr stark.You are right, it is raining very hard.
- JulianJa, das ist wirklich kein Wetter zum Rausgehen.Yes, this is really not weather for going out.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bad weather” translations and entries Schlechtwetter, Hundewetter, Sauwetter, Schietwetter, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Hundewetter, Sauwetter, Schietwetter, Schlechtwetter, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
