¿cómo está el clima?
The English phrase "what is the weather?" is translated into Spanish as ¿cómo está el clima?
You use this question to ask about current atmospheric conditions outside. If you want to ask about the weather in someone else's specific location, you can say ¿Cómo está el clima por ahí? For general information about weather, you might also encounter words like Temperatura (temperature), Sol (sun), Lluvia (rain), Viento (wind), Calor (heat) or Frío (cold). To say it is sunny, you use the phrase Hace sol.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ¿cómo está el clima? literally translates to "how is the weather?" in English.
Which one should you use?
While ¿cómo está el clima? is a common way to ask, the more idiomatic way to ask about the weather in many Spanish-speaking regions is ¿qué tiempo hace?, which translates to "what weather is it making?"
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, the expression ¿Cómo está el clima allá? is a popular way to ask about the weather in a particular location.
Did you know?
- The word clima originates from the Ancient Greek word for 'inclination' or 'slope'. This is because early Greeks believed that the angle of the earth's slope relative to the sun determined the weather of a region.
- While clima refers to the general weather or climate, Spanish speakers often use the word tiempo in phrases like ¿qué tiempo hace? In this specific context, tiempo means 'weather', though it usually means 'time'.
- Using clima is more common in Latin America, whereas speakers in Spain are far more likely to use tiempo when asking about the weather.
Examples in context
- Hace mucho calor.It is very hot.
- Está nublado.It is cloudy.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are planning a walk in the park.
- SofíaMateo, ¿cómo está el clima?Mateo, what is the weather like?
- MateoEstá muy soleado y hace calor.It is very sunny and hot.
- Sofía¡Qué bueno! Vamos al parque ahora.That's great! Let's go to the park now.
- MateoSí, yo también quiero salir.Yes, I want to go out too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries clima, cómo, el, CC BY-SA 4.0.
