What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of mal, meaning bad and tiempo, meaning weather or time.
Which one should you use?
While tiempo can mean time, in the specific context of mal tiempo, it refers to meteorological conditions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, you may see mal tiempo replaced with mal clima or malas condiciones climáticas. Additionally, in some Latin American countries, instead of saying llueve mucho, one might say está lloviendo copiosamente.
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to the bad weather as a specific subject, use the definite article el to form el mal tiempo.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying mal clima to mean bad weather. In Spanish, clima refers to long-term climate patterns, whereas mal tiempo is used for current, undesirable weather.
When do people say it?
If you want to use informal expressions, you can say Hace un tiempo de perros (It's a dog's weather) to describe very unpleasant weather or Está lloviendo a cántaros to say it is raining buckets. Another common way to comment on the weather is Hoy está para quedarse en casa, which means 'Today is a day to stay at home'.
Did you know?
- The word tiempo in mal tiempo shares an ancient root with the English word 'temperature', both coming from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to stretch' or 'extend'.
- While mal tiempo means 'bad weather', the word mal is also the root for 'malpractice' and 'malice' in English.
- When it rains heavily, the phrase lloviendo a cántaros refers to 'cántaros', which are traditional large clay jugs used for transporting water.
Examples in context
- Ayer hizo mal tiempo.We had bad weather yesterday.This sentence shows how to use mal tiempo to talk about the weather yesterday.Tatoeba #998353 by Shishir, translation #244529 by CK
- No fui a causa del mal tiempo.Owing to bad weather, I didn't go.This sentence demonstrates using mal tiempo to explain a reason for not going somewhere.Tatoeba #1445314 by marcelostockle, translation #28548 by Dejo
- Tuvimos mal tiempo últimamente.We have had bad weather recently.This sentence illustrates using mal tiempo to describe recent weather conditions.Tatoeba #1669612 by wallebot, translation #18718 by CC
- Hoy hace un tiempo de perros. No quiero salir de casa.The weather is terrible today. I don't want to leave the house.
- Hoy está lloviendo a cántaros. Mejor no salgas sin un buen paraguas.It's raining buckets today. It's better not to go out without a good umbrella.
- Hace mucho frío.It's very cold.
- Hace mucho calor.It's very hot.
- Está nublado.It's cloudy.
- 35 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are planning a trip to the beach.
- JavierNo quiero ir hoy por el mal tiempo.I don't want to go today because of the bad weather.
- LucíaTienes razón, está empezando a llover.You are right, it is starting to rain.
- Javier¿Podemos ir mañana si no hay mal tiempo?Can we go tomorrow if there is no bad weather?
- LucíaSí, Lucía dice que mañana estará soleado.Yes, Lucía says it will be sunny tomorrow.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mal, tiempo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
