cómo está el clima
/komo esta el klima/from spelling rules
The English phrase "the weather is like" is translated into Spanish as cómo está el clima.
cómo está el clima is used to ask about the current state of the atmosphere. When describing weather conditions in response, you might use words like Soleado (sunny), Nublado (cloudy), Lluvioso (rainy), Ventoso (windy), Templado (mild), Frío (cold), Caluroso (hot) or Tormentoso (stormy). You can also use phrases such as Hace buen tiempo (the weather is good/nice), Hace mal tiempo (the weather is bad), Hace fresco (it's cool/chilly), Hace mucho calor (it's very hot), Hace frío (it's cold) or Está nevando (it's snowing).
Which one should you use?
In many dialects, clima is commonly used to refer to the weather. However, clima technically refers to the long-term climate. If you want to refer to the weather, you can use cómo está el tiempo instead. Additionally, changing the verb affects the meaning: cómo está el clima asks about the current state, whereas cómo es el clima asks for a description of the general climate of a region.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can use the word tiempo instead of clima to refer to the weather in the phrase cómo está el tiempo.
Did you know?
- The word clima has an unexpected connection to the concept of 'sloping' or 'inclining', as it stems from the Greek word κλῐ́νω, referring to the way the Earth's surface tilts.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, discussing the weather is a common social 'ice-breaker' used to establish rapport before moving to more formal business topics.
- The word tiempo used in cómo está el tiempo is a homonym that means both 'weather' and 'time'.
Examples in context
- No podemos ir al parque porque hace mal tiempo.We can't go to the park because the weather is bad.
- No quiero salir ahora, ¡hace mucho calor!I don't want to go out now, it's very hot!
- ¿Sabes cómo está el clima hoy?Do you know how the weather is today?
- No sé cómo está el clima en Madrid.I don't know how the weather is in Madrid.
- Dime cómo está el clima allá.Tell me how the weather is over there.
Example conversation
Lucía is calling Alejandro to ask about his trip.
- LucíaAlejandro, ¿sabes cómo está el clima en la playa?Alejandro, do you know how the weather is at the beach?
- AlejandroSí, el clima está muy agradable y soleado.Yes, the weather is very pleasant and sunny.
- LucíaQué bueno, me alegra mucho saberlo.That's good, I am very happy to know that.
- AlejandroDeberías venir conmigo la próxima vez.You should come with me next time.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries clima, cómo, el, CC BY-SA 4.0.
