el tiempo está nublado
/el tjempo esta nublado/from spelling rules
The English phrase "the weather is cloudy" is translated into Spanish as el tiempo está nublado.
The phrase is used to describe a sky that is covered with clouds.
Which one should you use?
In casual conversation, Spanish speakers often omit el tiempo and simply say está nublado to mean "it is cloudy". While está nuboso can be used as a synonym, nublado is the more common choice for describing the general state of the weather.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Está nublao is a colloquial or regional variation of the phrase.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb está (from the verb estar) is used because weather conditions are considered states or temporary conditions rather than permanent characteristics. In the phrase el tiempo está nublado, the adjective nublado is masculine to agree with the masculine noun el tiempo.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word tiempo is used for both 'weather' and 'time'. This can create ambiguity in sentences unless the context makes it clear which one is meant.
- The word tiempo is a doublet of the musical term 'tempo', meaning they both derive from the same Latin root tempus.
- The word nublado has many 'cousins' across Europe, appearing as nuvolato in Italian and nubrado in Galician.
Examples in context
- Esta mañana, el tiempo está nublado.This morning the weather is cloudy.This sentence shows how to use el tiempo está nublado when referring to the morning.Tatoeba #3875915 by cueyayotl, translation #938310 by sacredceltic
- ¡Buenos días! Hoy está nublado, ¿verdad?Good morning! It's cloudy today, isn't it?
- Según los informes, el cielo está encapotado todo el día.According to the reports, the sky is overcast all day.
- No sé si jugar al fútbol hoy, está nuboso y podría llover.I don't know if I should play soccer today, it's cloudy and it might rain.
- Hoy está nublado y hace bastante frío.Today, it's cloudy and quite cold.
- El cielo está encapotado, y el pronóstico dice que puede llover.The sky is overcast, and the forecast says it may rain.
- Hoy el tiempo está nublado.Today the weather is cloudy.
- No salgas si el tiempo está nublado.Don't go out if the weather is cloudy.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are planning a walk in the park.
- Lucía¿Quieres ir al parque ahora?Do you want to go to the park now?
- AlejandroNo lo creo, el tiempo está nublado.I don't think so, the weather is cloudy.
- LucíaTienes razón, parece que va a llover.You are right, it looks like it's going to rain.
- AlejandroMejor nos quedamos en casa, Lucía.Better we stay at home, Lucía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries el, nublado, tiempo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
