llueve
/ˈʝwebe/
llueve is the Spanish way to say "it is raining".
Which one should you use?
While llueve can mean "it is raining", the continuous form está lloviendo is often used to emphasize that the rain is happening right at this very moment.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb is used in the third-person singular form because the weather is an impersonal subject.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʝwebe/
Did you know?
- In some regions, particularly in Argentina and Uruguay, the ll in llueve is pronounced with a 'sh' sound, making it sound like shueve.
- The word lluvia is a cognate of the English word 'alluvion', which describes the soil left behind by flowing water, though most English speakers only know 'alluvial' in a geological context.
- While llueve describes the weather, Spanish uses the verb llover as a metaphor for a sudden abundance of something, such as llueven críticas when someone is flooded with criticism.
Examples in context
- Llueve mucho en Londres.It rains a lot in London.
- Ahora llueve mucho.It is raining a lot now.
- Mira, llueve afuera.Look, it is raining outside.
- No salgas porque llueve.Don't go out because it is raining.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are looking out the window.
- DanielLucía, mira afuera, llueve.Lucía, look outside, it is raining.
- LucíaTienes razón, Daniel.You are right, Daniel.
- Daniel¿Tienes un paraguas?Do you have an umbrella?
- LucíaNo, no tengo uno.No, I don't have one.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry llueve, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
