il pleut
The English phrase "it is raining" is translated into French as il pleut.
il pleut is used to state that water is falling from the clouds in the form of rain.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the impersonal pronoun il, which does not refer to a person but functions like the English "it" in weather expressions. The simple present il pleut is used to mean both "it rains" and "it is raining". To express that it was raining in the past, use the imperfect tense il pleuvait. To express that it will rain in the future, use the future tense il pleuvra.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly try to use a progressive construction like il est pleuvant, but you should use the simple present il pleut instead.
Did you know?
- In some regions of France, people use the expression il pleut des hallebardes, meaning 'it is raining halberds', referring to the long-handled axes used by medieval guards.
- If you want to say it is raining cats and dogs, you would not use animals, but instead say il pleut des cordes, meaning 'it is raining ropes'.
- The word il in the phrase il pleut evolved from the Late Latin word illī.
Examples in context
- Il pleut des cordes.It is raining cats and dogs.This sentence shows an idiomatic way to say it is raining heavily with il pleut.Tatoeba #181055 by Aiji, translation #2573472 by VirtuOZ
- Il pleut sans arrêt.It is raining all the time.This sentence uses il pleut to describe rain that is happening continuously.Tatoeba #339709 by TRANG, translation #26710 by CK
- Il pleut davantage que jamais.It is raining worse than ever.This sentence uses il pleut to compare current rainfall to the past.Tatoeba #1348180 by sacredceltic, translation #26987 by CK
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are deciding whether to go for a walk.
- HugoRegarde les nuages, il pleut.Look at the clouds, it is raining.
- LéaOh non, je n'ai pas mon parapluie.Oh no, I don't have my umbrella.
- HugoOn peut rester à la maison alors.We can stay at home then.
- LéaOui, c'est une bonne idée, Hugo.Yes, that is a good idea, Hugo.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries il, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
