tiempo lluvioso
/tjempo ʝubjoso/from spelling rules
The English phrase "rainy weather" is tiempo lluvioso in Spanish.
tiempo lluvioso refers to conditions where it is raining or likely to rain. If you are specifically referring to long-term climatic conditions or a rainy climate, you may also use clima lluvioso.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of tiempo (time/weather) and lluvioso (rainy).
Which one should you use?
While lluvia means "rain" (the substance), lluvioso is the adjective used to describe the weather or a period of time.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the expression caen chuzos de punta is used to describe heavy rain.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a noun phrase, it takes the masculine singular article el because tiempo is a masculine noun (e.g., el tiempo lluvioso).
How do you pronounce it?
/tjempo ʝubjoso/
When do people say it?
To colloquially describe very heavy rainfall, you can use the informal idiom llueve a cántaros (similar to "it's raining cats and dogs") or the expression está lloviendo a mares to highlight abundant rain.
Did you know?
- The word tiempo is a linguistic 'cousin' to the English word 'temperature'. They both share a common ancestor that relates to the concept of 'stretching' or 'extending' through time or space.
- The adjective lluvioso uses the suffix -oso, which in English is similar to the suffix '-ous' in 'precipitous'. This suffix is used to turn a noun into an adjective describing abundance.
- While 'weather' and 'time' are distinct concepts in English, the Spanish word tiempo covers both, meaning you use the same word for 'what time is it?' and 'what is the weather like?'
Examples in context
- Un período prolongado de tiempo lluvioso es perjudicial para las plantas.A long spell of rainy weather is harmful to plants.This sentence shows the effect of a long spell of tiempo lluvioso on plants.Tatoeba #626799 by Leono, translation #278101 by CM
- Durante la estación lluviosa, las precipitaciones son frecuentes en esta zona.During the rainy season, precipitation is frequent in this area.
- Hoy es un día lluvioso. Te recomendaría llevar un paraguas.Today is a rainy day, I would recommend you to bring an umbrella.
- Si sales ahora, te vas a mojar, ¡llueve a cántaros!If you go out now, you'll get wet, it's raining cats and dogs!
- El tiempo está horrible, ¡está lloviendo a mares!The weather is awful, it's pouring!
- Mejor esperemos aquí hasta que pase la lluvia. Afuera caen chuzos de punta.Let's wait here until the rain stops, it's pouring outside.
- No me gusta este tiempo lluvioso.I do not like this rainy weather.
- El tiempo lluvioso continúa durante todo el fin de semana.The rainy weather continues throughout the whole weekend.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are talking about their plans for the weekend.
- Alejandro¿Quieres salir a caminar, Lucía?Do you want to go for a walk, Lucía?
- LucíaNo, prefiero quedarme en casa con este tiempo lluvioso.No, I prefer to stay at home with this rainy weather.
- AlejandroEs verdad, el cielo está muy gris.It is true, the sky is very grey.
- LucíaSí, mejor tomamos un café adentro.Yes, it is better if we have a coffee indoors.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lluvioso, tiempo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
