Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| nublado | /nuˈblado/ |
| nublo | /ˈnublo/ |
| nuboso | /nuboso/ (from spelling rules) |
| anubarrado | /anubarado/ (from spelling rules) |
| anubado | /anubado/ (from spelling rules) |
| nubloso | /nuˈbloso/ |
Spanish uses several words to describe being covered with or characterized by clouds. When describing the current state of the weather, you should use the verb estar (specifically está nublado) rather than ser. For example, you would say está nublado to mean "it is cloudy".
Which one should you use?
While nublado is the most common way to say "cloudy" regarding the weather, nuboso is often used in more technical or meteorological contexts to describe a high density of clouds. Other forms available include nublo, anubarrado, anubado and nubloso.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina and Uruguay, the expression cielo encapotado is used to describe cloudy weather.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective describing weather, nublado must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The feminine form is nublada and the plural form is nublados.
How do you pronounce it?
/nuˈblado/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the root for 'cloud' is shared with words for 'veil' or 'wedding' in other Romance languages, as the Latin nūbēs could mean both a cloud and a bridal veil.
- The phrase cielo encapotado used in Argentina and Uruguay comes from the word capote, which refers to a heavy cloak or cape.
- The English word 'nebula' shares a distant ancestor with the Spanish word nublado, as both trace back to the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to cover'.
Examples in context
- Es un día nublado.It's a cloudy day.This sentence shows how to describe a cloudy day using nublado.Tatoeba #747665 by Shishir, translation #280744 by CK
- Esa noche estaba nublado.It was cloudy that night.This sentence describes a cloudy night in the past using nublado.Tatoeba #1719040 by marcelostockle, translation #43592 by CK
- ¿Hoy parece estar nublado?Does it look cloudy today?This sentence is a way to ask if it looks cloudy today using nublado.Tatoeba #983486 by Shishir, translation #242948 by CK
- El cielo está nublado hoy en Madrid.The sky is cloudy today in Madrid.
- El día está cubierto de nubes.The day is cloudy.
- ¡Qué tapado está el día hoy!How cloudy it is today!
- Ayer estuvo nublado.Yesterday was cloudy.
- Mañana estará nublado.Tomorrow will be cloudy.
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are looking out the window at the sky.
- AlejandroParece un día muy nublado.It looks like a very cloudy day.
- LucíaSí, el cielo está nublado.Yes, the sky is cloudy.
- Alejandro¿Crees que lloverá pronto?Do you think it will rain soon?
- LucíaProbablemente, con este tiempo.Probably, with this weather.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cloudy” translations and entries nublado, nublo, nuboso, nubloso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nublado, nublo, nuboso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
