It's cloudy today
in SpanishHoy está nublado
/oy ehs-TAH noo-BLAH-doh/
The most standard, widely understood way to say the sky is cloudy. It works in any Spanish-speaking country and in any social situation.
💬Other Ways to Say It
Está nublado
/ehs-TAH noo-BLAH-doh/
Simply 'It is cloudy.' You can drop the word 'hoy' (today) if the context is obvious.
Hay nubes
/eye NOO-behs/
Literally 'There are clouds.' This is often used when it's partly cloudy or scattered clouds, rather than a completely grey sky.
Está encapotado
/ehs-TAH en-kah-poh-TAH-doh/
Describes a sky that is completely covered with dark, thick clouds, often threatening rain. It comes from the word for 'cape' or 'cloak'.
El cielo está cubierto
/el SYEH-loh ehs-TAH koo-BYEHR-toh/
Means 'The sky is covered/overcast.' A slightly more descriptive way to say there is full cloud cover.
Está cerrado
/ehs-TAH seh-RRAH-doh/
Literally 'It is closed.' This implies the sky is shut tight with clouds and rain is very likely.
Está medio nublado
/ehs-TAH MEH-dyoh noo-BLAH-doh/
Means 'It's partly cloudy' or 'half cloudy.'
🔑Key Words
📊Quick Comparison
Here is a quick guide to choosing the right phrase based on how grey the sky actually looks.
| Phrase | Formality | Best For | Avoid When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Está nublado | Neutral | General use, standard cloudy days | You want to be poetic or specific about storm clouds |
| Hay nubes | Neutral | Partly cloudy days, white fluffy clouds | The sky is completely grey/overcast |
| Está encapotado | Neutral | Very dark, thick cloud cover (especially in Spain) | There are only a few light clouds |
📈Difficulty Level
The 'b' in 'nublado' is soft (almost like a 'v'), and make sure to pronounce the 'a' as 'ah'. It flows easily.
The main challenge is remembering to use 'estar' instead of 'hace', which is used for other weather phrases.
Straightforward usage with no hidden double meanings.
Key Challenges:
- Mixing up 'hace' and 'está' with weather
- Pronouncing the soft 'd' in 'nublado'
💡Examples in Action
Hoy está nublado, así que no iremos a la playa.
It's cloudy today, so we won't go to the beach.
Parece que va a llover, el cielo está muy encapotado.
It looks like it's going to rain, the sky is very overcast.
¿Crees que hará sol o seguirá nublado?
Do you think it will be sunny or will it stay cloudy?
Aunque hay nubes, hace mucho calor.
Even though there are clouds, it's very hot.
🌍Cultural Context
The 'Elevator Talk' Universal
Just like in English-speaking countries, commenting on the weather is the number one way to break the ice in Spanish. Saying '¡Qué nublado está hoy!' (How cloudy it is today!) is a perfectly safe and polite way to start a conversation with a taxi driver, a shopkeeper, or a neighbor in an elevator anywhere from Madrid to Mexico City.
The 'Cape' Metaphor
In Spain and parts of the Southern Cone, you'll hear the word 'encapotado.' This comes from the word 'capote' (a large cape or cloak, like bullfighters use). It poetically imagines the sky wearing a heavy grey cloak that covers the sun. It's a very evocative way to describe a gloomy day.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Hacer' instead of 'Estar'
Mistake: "Saying 'Hace nublado' (It makes cloudy)."
Correction: Está nublado.
Using 'Ser' instead of 'Estar'
Mistake: "Saying 'Es nublado'."
Correction: Está nublado.
💡Pro Tips
Pairing with Temperature
It's very common to combine cloudy weather with temperature descriptions. You can say, 'Está nublado pero hace calor' (It's cloudy but hot). Remember: 'está' for the clouds, 'hace' for the heat.
Spotting the Rain
If the clouds look dark and rain seems imminent, upgrade your vocabulary from 'está nublado' to 'está gris' (it's grey) or 'se está poniendo feo' (it's getting ugly/bad).
🗺️Regional Variations
Spain
Spaniards love the word 'encapotado' for those thick, grey winter skies. They are also very likely to comment on the weather in elevators and shops.
Mexico
In Mexico, if it's cloudy, people often look for signs of rain immediately. 'Está cerrado' is common when the clouds are dark and low.
Caribbean (Puerto Rico, Cuba, DR)
Cloudy weather in the Caribbean often moves very fast; it might be cloudy one minute and sunny the next. The pronunciation is faster and more fluid.
💬What Comes Next?
Someone mentions it's cloudy
Hoy está muy nublado, ¿no?
It's very cloudy today, isn't it?
Sí, parece que va a llover.
Yes, it looks like it's going to rain.
Hoping for better weather
Ojalá salga el sol más tarde.
I hope the sun comes out later.
No creo, el cielo está muy cerrado.
I don't think so, the sky is very overcast.
🔄How It Differs from English
The biggest difference is the verb choice. English uses 'It is' for everything (It is sunny, It is cloudy, It is hot). Spanish switches verbs based on the concept: 'Hace' (it makes) for sensations like heat/cold/sun, and 'Está' (it is currently) for states like cloudy/raining. English speakers often try to use 'Es' (permanent 'to be'), which sounds unnatural.
False Friends & Common Confusions:
Why it's different: While we say 'Hace sol' (It makes sun), we cannot say 'Hace nublado'.
Use instead: Está nublado
🎯Your Learning Path
➡️ Learn Next:
How to say it's raining
Cloudy weather often leads to rain, so this is the logical next step.
How to say it's sunny
Learn the opposite condition to describe all types of days.
How to say it's hot
Learn to switch verbs from 'está' (cloudy) to 'hace' (hot).
✏️Test Your Knowledge
💡 Quick Quiz: It's cloudy today
Question 1 of 3
Which verb should you use with 'nublado'?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I say 'Hace nublado' since I say 'Hace sol'?
No, this is a very common mistake! While Spanish uses 'hace' (it makes) for sun and wind, it uses 'está' (it is) for cloudy conditions. Think of 'cloudy' as the *condition* or *mood* of the sky right now.
What is the difference between 'nube' and 'nublado'?
'Nube' is the noun (cloud), while 'nublado' is the adjective (cloudy). You can say 'Hay nubes' (There are clouds) or 'Está nublado' (It is cloudy)—both are correct, but 'está nublado' is the most standard way to describe the weather.
Is 'nublado' masculine or feminine?
'Nublado' is an adjective that usually refers to 'el día' (the day) or 'el cielo' (the sky), both of which are masculine. So, we almost always say 'está nublado' (ending in -o). If you were describing 'la mañana' (the morning), you could technically say 'la mañana está nublada'.
How do I say 'very cloudy'?
You can simply add 'muy' before the adjective: 'Está muy nublado' (It's very cloudy).
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