Wie ist das Wetter?
The English phrase "how is the weather?" is translated into German as Wie ist das Wetter?
This phrase is used to ask about the current atmospheric conditions outside.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of Wie (how), ist (is), das (the) and Wetter (weather).
Which one should you use?
Use Wie ist das Wetter? to ask about current conditions. If you want to ask for a weather forecast (how the weather will be), use Wie wird das Wetter? instead.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Northern Germany, you might hear the expression Moin, wie fies ist das Wetter? to ask "Hey, how nasty is the weather?"
Did you know?
- German has a specific concept called Schmuddelwetter to describe the kind of grey, drizzly weather that makes you want to stay inside.
- The word Wetter shares the same ancient root as the English 'weather', both coming from a Proto-Indo-European word meaning 'to blow'.
Examples in context
- Entschuldigen Sie bitte, wie ist das Wetter?Excuse me, how is the weather?
- Können Sie mir sagen, wie das Wetter ist?Can you tell me how the weather is?
- Hey, wie ist das Wetter?Hey, how is the weather?
- Wie sieht's denn draußen aus?So, how does it look outside?
- Wie ist das Wetter heute in Berlin?How is the weather today in Berlin?
Example conversation
Hannah and Lukas are talking on the phone.
- HannahHallo Lukas, wie ist das Wetter?Hello Lukas, how is the weather?
- LukasEs regnet leider sehr stark.Unfortunately, it is raining very hard.
- HannahOh, das ist wirklich schade.Oh, that is really a pity.
- LukasJa, wir bleiben heute zu Hause.Yes, we are staying at home today.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Wetter, das, wie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
