il fait trop chaud
To say "it is too hot" in French, use il fait trop chaud.
This phrase is used to express that the air temperature is uncomfortably high. If you want to describe a physical reaction to the heat, you can say J'étouffe de chaleur (I'm suffocating from the heat) or Je fonds (I'm melting). To express that you cannot stand the heat, you can use Je ne supporte pas cette chaleur.
Which one should you use?
While il fait chaud means "it is hot," adding the word trop changes the meaning to imply that the heat is excessive or uncomfortable.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the subject il is an impersonal pronoun. It does not refer to a specific person or object, similar to how "it" is used in the English phrase "it is raining".
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying il est trop chaud. English speakers often make this mistake by translating "it is" literally, but in French, you must use il fait to describe the weather.
Did you know?
- In very extreme weather, French speakers use the phrase on crève de chaud, which literally means 'we are bursting' or 'dying' from the heat.
- The word chaud comes from the Latin word calidus, which is also the root of the English word 'calorie'.
- The word trop in this context has a surprising ancestor in the Frankish word for a 'village' or 'cluster of houses'. It has traveled from meaning a 'collection of things' to meaning something 'unreasonably excessive'.
Examples in context
- Il fait trop chaud.It is too hot.This is a simple statement of the weather.Tatoeba #128424 by sacredceltic, translation #664952 by bluepie88
- Il fait trop chaud pour travailler.It is too hot to work.This sentence shows how to express that the heat is too intense for a specific activity.Tatoeba #8431 by sacredceltic, translation #67684 by CK
- Il fait trop chaud pour rester ici.It is too hot to stay here.This sentence shows how to express that the heat is too intense to remain in a specific location.Tatoeba #394458 by Scott, translation #267103 by CK
- Ouais, il fait une chaleur de fou !Yeah, it is crazy hot!
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Emma are sitting inside a room without air conditioning.
- NathanIl fait trop chaud ici.It is too hot in here.
- EmmaOui, on devrait ouvrir la fenêtre.Yes, we should open the window.
- NathanJe vais chercher un ventilateur.I am going to look for a fan.
- EmmaMerci, Nathan.Thanks, Nathan.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chaud, fait, il, trop, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
