How to Say "It Is Raining" in German

es regnet

The English phrase "it is raining" is translated into German as es regnet.

The phrase es regnet is used to state that water is currently falling from the sky.

What does it mean word for word?

In the phrase es regnet, es functions as a dummy subject meaning "it" and regnet is the third-person singular form of the verb regnen.

Es schüttet is used to describe a downpour, and the colloquial expression Es regnet wie aus Eimern is used to emphasize very heavy rainfall.

In Austrian Dialect, you may hear Es hat gschifft to mean "It has poured".

German does not have a continuous aspect like English, so es regnet is used for both "it rains" and "it is raining".

Do not try to use a present participle like es regnend to express the continuous aspect. This is grammatically incorrect in German.

In some regions of Germany, people use the verb schiffen to describe rain, which normally means 'to ship' or is a vulgar term for urinating.
The word es is shared with Yiddish, where it is written as עס, showing the linguistic bridge between German and Jewish languages.

Es regnet in Strömen.
It is raining cats and dogs.
This sentence is useful for learning how to express very heavy rain.
Tatoeba #753327 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2573472 by VirtuOZ
Schauen Sie, es regnet.
It is raining, you see.
This sentence is useful for pointing out that it is raining.
Tatoeba #1849156 by Tamy, translation #33127 by orcrist
Es regnet die ganze Zeit.
It is raining all the time.
This sentence is useful for stating that the rain is continuous.
Tatoeba #444462 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #26710 by CK
Es regnet draußen.
It is raining outside.
Es regnet wie aus Eimern, pass auf dich auf!
It's raining cats and dogs, be careful!
Komm nicht raus, es schüttet im Moment!
Don't come out, it's pouring at the moment!
Es nieselt schon den ganzen Tag.
It has been drizzling all day long.
18 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two friends are looking out the window before a walk.

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