What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Quel temps fait-il ? literally translates to "What weather does it make?"
Which one should you use?
While Quel temps fait-il ? is the standard polite way to ask the question, you may also encounter the informal version Il fait quel temps ?
How does it change in a sentence?
In French, the verb faire (to do/make) is used to describe weather conditions instead of the verb être (to be).
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using Quel est le temps ? Although this is a literal translation of "What is the weather", it is not a natural way to ask the question in French.
When do people say it?
When someone asks about the weather, a common way to respond is by using the structure Il fait followed by an adjective, such as Il fait beau (The weather is nice). Common descriptive adjectives include ensoleillé (sunny), pluvieux (rainy), nuageux (cloudy) and venteux (windy).
Did you know?
- If a French speaker says Il fait un temps de chien, they are not talking about a dog but describing terrible, rainy weather.
- The word temps is a linguistic double agent. While it refers to the weather in this phrase, it is also the exact same word used to mean 'time'.
- The word temps is a direct descendant of the Latin tempus, which is also the ancestor of English words like 'tempo' and 'contemporary'.
Examples in context
- Quel temps fait-il ?What is the weather like?This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase Quel temps fait-il ?Tatoeba #3256362 by nimfeo, translation #5205265 by Palores
- Quel temps fait-il à Paris?What's the weather like in Paris?
- Quel temps fait-il à Marseille ?What's the weather like in Marseille?
- Comment est le temps à la montagne ?How is the weather in the mountains?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries quel, temps, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
