How to Talk About Weather in English

One of the most basic topics of conversation is the weather. It seems like a discussion that you can’t get away from!

It’s an easy way to start a conversation, even with strangers. Knowing some simple weather phrases in English will help you get through “small talk” much more easily.

Here are some questions you could ask:

• How’s the weather? or What’s it like out there?
• Is it hot or cold?
• Is it sunny?
• Is it raining?
• Beautiful day, isn’t it?
• What’s the weather forecast? (What is the weather expected to be like?)

Some answers to describe weather:

• Today it is warm and sunny out.
• It’s so cold out there!
• The sun is very bright today, you might want to take sunglasses.
• It’s not raining, but it is cloudy.
• It is! I’m so happy the sun is shining.
• They’re saying blue skies and hot!  

Here is some weather vocabulary that you might use:

below freezing: temperature less than 0 Celcius or 32 Fahrenheit

It’s supposed to be below freezing today. I should wear my gloves.

boiling hot: an idiom used to describe a very hot day

It was boiling hot, so we decided to stay inside.

breeze: a very light wind; breezy: lightly windy

Maybe you shouldn’t wear a hat, it’s breezy out today.

chilly: lightly cold

I always wear a scarf when it’s chilly.

drizzling: to be raining very lightly

I don’t think you’ll need an umbrella, it’s only drizzling.

overcast: a gray sky with no sun visible

The sky is overcast this morning, but the sun is supposed to come out later.