está nevando
/esta nebando/from spelling rules
To say "it is snowing" in Spanish, you use está nevando.
This phrase is used to describe the current weather when snow is falling from the sky.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb estar (to be) in its third-person singular form and the gerund of nevar (to snow).
How does it change in a sentence?
Because weather phenomena in Spanish are impersonal, the phrase does not require a subject pronoun like él. Additionally, while está nevando describes the action in progress, the simple present nieva is also commonly used to express that it is currently snowing.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the verb tener (to have) for weather. In Spanish, you must use estar with the gerund or the impersonal verb nevar.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the verb nevar can be used in a figurative sense to describe a place covered in white, such as a head of hair that is 'snowing' due to age.
- The word nieve is used in Spanish to describe the white foam of a wave or the froth on a drink, extending the concept of 'snow' beyond the weather.
- The root of nevar is shared with the Latin word nix, which is also the ancestor of the English word 'niveous' meaning snowy or white.
Examples in context
- Está nevando.It is snowing.Tatoeba #330091 by tatoerique, translation #378913 by contour
- El pronóstico indica que está nevando en las montañas.The forecast indicates that it is snowing in the mountains.
- Disculpe, señor, pero está nevando y es preferible no salir hoy.Excuse me, sir, but it is snowing and it's preferable not to go out today.
- ¡Mira por la ventana! Está nevando a cántaros.Look out the window! It is snowing buckets.
- No me puedo creer que esté cayendo nieve en abril.I can't believe snow is falling in April.
- Mira por la ventana, está nevando mucho.Look through the window, it is snowing a lot.
- No salgas ahora porque está nevando.Don't go out now because it is snowing.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are looking out the window.
- Elena¡Mira, Daniel, está nevando!Look, Daniel, it is snowing!
- DanielTienes razón, Elena. Qué bonito.You are right, Elena. How pretty.
- Elena¿Quieres ir a jugar?Do you want to go play?
- DanielSí, voy a buscar mi abrigo.Yes, I am going to get my coat.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
