Inklingo

How to Say "weather" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “weather” is “tiempo” — use 'tiempo' when referring to the current atmospheric conditions or for daily weather forecasts..

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tiempo

/tyem-po//ˈtjempo/

nounA1general
Use 'tiempo' when referring to the current atmospheric conditions or for daily weather forecasts.
A sky showing multiple weather conditions at once: a sun, a cloud, and wind blowing leaves.

Examples

¿Qué tiempo hace hoy?

What's the weather like today?

Hace buen tiempo para ir a la playa.

It's nice weather to go to the beach.

El pronóstico del tiempo dice que lloverá mañana.

The weather forecast says it will rain tomorrow.

Use 'Hacer' for Weather

To describe the weather, you almost always use the verb 'hacer' (to do/make). For example, 'Hace sol' (It's sunny) or 'Hace frío' (It's cold).

'Tiempo' vs. 'Clima'

Mistake: “Using 'clima' for the daily weather.”

Correction: Use 'tiempo' for the weather on a specific day ('el tiempo de hoy'). Use 'clima' for the typical weather pattern of a region over a long period ('el clima tropical').

clima

/KLEE-mah//ˈkli.ma/

nounA1general
Use 'clima' when discussing the general climate of a region or long-term weather patterns.
A colorful storybook illustration showing three distinct geographical zones side-by-side: a sunny beach, a dry desert, and a snowy mountain, representing the variety of global climates.

Examples

El clima de Costa Rica es tropical y húmedo.

The climate of Costa Rica is tropical and humid.

¿Cómo es el clima en invierno en tu ciudad?

What is the weather (climate) like in winter in your city?

El cambio climático es una preocupación global.

Climate change is a global concern.

Masculine Noun Exception

Even though 'clima' ends in -a, it is a masculine word and always uses 'el' or 'un'. This is because it comes from Greek.

Incorrect Gender

Mistake: “La clima es cálida.”

Correction: El clima es cálido. (Remember to match the adjective to the masculine noun: cálido, not cálida.)

Daily Forecast vs. General Climate

The most common mistake is using 'clima' when you mean the weather *today*. Remember, 'tiempo' is for what's happening outside right now or in the immediate forecast, while 'clima' is about the typical, long-term atmospheric conditions of a place.

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