Quel temps fait-il ?
To ask "what is the weather like?" in French, you say Quel temps fait-il ?
This phrase is a question used to inquire about the current atmospheric conditions outside.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "What weather does it make?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The standard form Quel temps fait-il ? uses inversion (verb-subject), making it the grammatically correct version for written French or formal spoken situations. In casual conversation, you might instead hear Il fait quel temps ? For even more polite requests, you can use Pouvez-vous me dire quel temps il fait? to ask someone to tell you what the weather is like or Quel temps fait-il aujourd'hui? to ask specifically about the weather today.
How does it change in a sentence?
In French, the verb faire (to do/make) is used to describe the weather, rather than the verb être (to be). Additionally, the word quel must agree in gender with the noun temps, which is masculine.
Did you know?
- To describe a heavy downpour in response to this question, French speakers use the phrase il pleut des cordes, meaning 'it is raining ropes'.
- A common casual response to Quel temps fait-il ? is Il fait moche, which literally translates to 'it is ugly'.
- The word temps is a homonym used for both 'weather' and 'time'. Depending on the context, Quel temps fait-il ? asks about the weather, but Quel temps a-t-il fallu ? asks how much time was needed.
Examples in context
- Quel temps fait-il aujourd'hui ?What is the weather like today?
Example conversation
Lucas and Léa are planning a walk in the park.
- LucasLéa, quel temps fait-il ?Léa, what is the weather like?
- LéaIl fait très beau et chaud.It is very beautiful and warm.
- LucasC'est parfait pour une promenade !That is perfect for a walk!
- LéaOui, allons-y tout de suite.Yes, let's go right now.
