cómo está el clima
/komo esta el klima/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'what the weather is like' can be expressed in Spanish as cómo está el clima.
This phrase is used to ask about the current state or conditions of the atmosphere in a particular place. When describing specific weather elements, you might use lluvia for rain, nube for cloud or tormenta for storm. To say it is raining very heavily, you can use the idiom Está lloviendo a cántaros.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase cómo está el clima translates literally to 'how is the weather'.
Which one should you use?
There is a technical distinction between the words used: el clima often refers to long-term patterns (the climate), whereas el tiempo refers to the immediate state of the atmosphere (the weather). However, in many dialects, el clima is commonly used to talk about daily weather.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you can use specific expressions to describe feeling the weather, such as Hace fresquito to say it is a little chilly or Hace bochorno to say it is sweltering.
How does it change in a sentence?
In many Spanish-speaking regions, you will find that cómo está el tiempo is used instead of cómo está el clima to refer to the weather.
Did you know?
- In some regions, you can describe sweltering, humid heat as bochorno, a word that can also describe a feeling of embarrassment or shame.
- The word clima shares its roots with the Greek word for a 'slope' or 'inclination'. This historical connection refers to the way the earth's surface 'slopes' or tilts toward the sun to create different climate zones.
- While English uses the verb 'to be' for weather, Spanish often uses hacer, meaning 'to do' or 'to make', to describe the weather as in hace frío.
Examples in context
- ¿Cómo está el clima hoy?How is the weather today?
- No sé cómo está el clima hoy.I don't know what the weather is like today.
- Dime cómo está el clima en Madrid.Tell me what the weather is like in Madrid.
- ¿Sabes cómo está el clima en la playa?Do you know what the weather is like at the beach?
Example conversation
María and Mateo are talking on the phone before a trip.
- MaríaMateo, ¿sabes cómo está el clima en la ciudad?Mateo, do you know what the weather is like in the city?
- MateoSí, María, hace mucho calor ahora.Yes, María, it is very hot right now.
- MaríaQué bueno, porque me encanta el sol.That's good, because I love the sun.
- MateoEntonces te gustará mucho el viaje.Then you will like the trip a lot.
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.
