Talk about the weather, describe the seasons, and understand climate-related vocabulary — from mild Mediterranean France to the epic Canadian winter.
Estimated Time: 40–50 minutes
French weather expressions use three main structures: Il fait (it makes), Il y a (there is), and specific verbs:
| French | English | Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Quel temps fait-il ? | What's the weather like? | — |
| Il fait beau | It's nice weather | Il fait + adj |
| Il fait chaud | It's hot | Il fait + adj |
| Il fait froid | It's cold | Il fait + adj |
| Il fait frais | It's cool/chilly | Il fait + adj |
| Il fait doux | It's mild | Il fait + adj |
| Il fait mauvais | The weather is bad | Il fait + adj |
| Il fait humide / sec | It's humid / dry | Il fait + adj |
| Il fait soleil | It's sunny | Il fait + noun |
| Il y a du vent | It's windy | Il y a + noun |
| Il y a du brouillard | It's foggy | Il y a + noun |
| Il y a de l'orage | There's a storm | Il y a + noun |
| Il pleut | It's raining | verb |
| Il neige | It's snowing | verb |
| Il gèle | It's freezing | verb |
| French | English | French | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| le soleil | sun | la neige | snow | |
| la pluie | rain | la glace / le verglas | ice / black ice | |
| le vent | wind | la grĂŞle | hail | |
| un nuage | cloud | la tempĂŞte | storm | |
| le brouillard | fog | un Ă©clair | lightning | |
| le tonnerre | thunder | un arc-en-ciel | rainbow |
"Il fait 25 degrés" = It's 25°C (77°F). "Il fait moins 20" = It's -20°C (-4°F).
Quick reference: 0°C = freezing, 20°C = comfortable, 30°C = hot, 40°C = heat wave.
"Il fait combien ?" = What's the temperature?
| French | English | Preposition |
|---|---|---|
| le printemps | spring | au printemps |
| l'été (m) | summer | en été |
| l'automne (m) | autumn / fall | en automne |
| l'hiver (m) | winter | en hiver |
Spring is the odd one out: au printemps. The other three seasons use en: en été, en automne, en hiver. Just memorize that spring is special!
France has diverse climates: oceanic (Brittany, Normandy — mild, rainy), continental (Alsace, interior — cold winters, warm summers), Mediterranean (Provence, Côte d'Azur — hot dry summers, mild winters), and mountain (Alps, Pyrénées — snow-heavy). Paris: mild but gray in winter, warm summers (heatwaves increasingly common: la canicule).
Québec winters are legendary: "Il fait moins 30" is not unusual in January/February. Key winter vocabulary: la poudrerie (blowing snow), le verglas (freezing rain/ice storm — the 1998 ice storm is unforgettable), le banc de neige (snowbank), la souffleuse (snowblower). Spring: la fonte des neiges (snowmelt). Summers can be hot and humid, especially in Montréal.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| la tempĂŞte de neige | snowstorm / blizzard |
| la poudrerie | blowing/drifting snow |
| le verglas | freezing rain / black ice |
| un banc de neige | snowbank |
| déneiger / pelleter | to shovel snow |
| la souffleuse (Ă neige) | snowblower |
| le sel (de déglaçage) | road salt |
| les pneus d'hiver | winter tires (mandatory in Québec!) |
| la tuque | winter hat / beanie (Canadian term) |
| les mitaines | mittens |
| un foulard / une Ă©charpe | scarf |
| un manteau d'hiver | winter coat |
Une tuque is the Québécois/Canadian word for a knit winter hat (beanie). In France, it's un bonnet. If you say tuque in Paris, they might not know what you mean!
Aujourd'hui il fait beau, il y a du soleil et il fait 22 degrés.
(Today the weather is nice, it's sunny and it's 22 degrees.)
Demain il va pleuvoir et il fera plus froid.
(Tomorrow it's going to rain and it will be colder.)
L'hiver dernier, il a fait moins 35 à Montréal !
(Last winter, it was -35 in Montréal!)
1. How do you say "It's cold" in French?
2. Which season uses "au" instead of "en"?
3. What is "une tuque"?
✦ Weather uses three patterns: "Il fait" + adj, "Il y a" + noun, and verbs (il pleut, il neige).
✦ Both countries use Celsius. "Moins 30" (-30°C) is a reality of Canadian winters.
✦ "Au printemps" but "en été / en automne / en hiver."
✦ Key Canadian winter vocab: poudrerie, verglas, tuque, souffleuse, banc de neige.
✦ Tuque (🇨🇦) = bonnet (🇫🇷) = winter hat. Canicule = heat wave.