hoy hace buen tiempo
/oi aθe bwen tjempo/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'the weather is good today' is translated into Spanish as hoy hace buen tiempo.
This phrase is used to state that the current outdoor conditions are pleasant. You can also use the alternative hace un buen día, which focuses more on the day itself being pleasant rather than the specific meteorological conditions.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'today makes good time' because the verb hacer (to make/do) is used in Spanish to express weather conditions.
Which one should you use?
While hoy hace buen tiempo is a standard way to describe the weather, El clima está genial hoy is a colloquial way to say the weather is great today. Conversely, Hoy el clima está agradable is a more formal way to express that the weather is pleasant.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly try to use the verb 'to be' to describe weather by saying el tiempo es bueno. In Spanish, you must use hacer to express weather conditions instead.
Did you know?
- The word tiempo in this phrase shares the same ancient root as the English words 'tempo' and 'temperature', both deriving from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to stretch'.
- While hoy hace buen tiempo is common, in some Spanish-speaking cultures, discussing the weather is a vital social lubricant used to initiate conversations with strangers, similar to the British custom.
- The word buen is actually a shortened version of bueno, a process known as apocope, which occurs when the final vowel is dropped.
Examples in context
- Hoy hace buen tiempo para caminar.Today the weather is good for walking.
- ¡Qué bien! Hoy hace buen tiempo.Great! The weather is good today.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are standing on a balcony looking outside.
- LucíaMira, Javier, hoy hace buen tiempo.Look, Javier, the weather is good today.
- JavierSí, Lucía, es un día perfecto.Yes, Lucía, it is a perfect day.
- Lucía¿Quieres ir al parque?Do you want to go to the park?
- JavierClaro que sí, vamos.Of course, let's go.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buen, hace, hoy, tiempo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
