144 top weather words in German to cook up a vocabulary storm

From cozy drizzle rain to bright summer sunshine - The weather is fascinating, versatile and always there, which makes it the ideal conversation topic. More importantly, the repercussions of climate change make it absolutely necessary to talk about the weather in our times.

Once you know some basic weather phrases, you’ll always have a safe and easy way to practice the language. That’s why it’s a great starting point when you’re learning German.

Practice that for a while and once you’re more advanced, you can join more serious discussions.

On vacation in a German-speaking country, it’s also incredibly helpful to know some weather words and expressions in German. Understanding the German weather-forecast and learning how to talk about the weather in German will help you:

1. Plan your day

In Germany, the weather isn’t always peachy. So understanding the forecast is crucial to planning your stay. Use the sunny days for outdoor activities like hiking in the Black Forest or swimming in the Baltic Sea. For rainy days, consider visiting a museum like the famous Pergamon Museum in Berlin.

2. Dress appropriately

My Mama always says “Es gibt kein falsches Wetter, nur falsche Kleidung” (There’s no wrong weather, only wrong clothes). So make sure you check out the weather forecast, so you can pick your clothes accordingly. Our extensive German clothes guide will help you understand what’s what.

3. Start a conversation

There’s no easier topic to start a conversation than the weather. It’s such a popular small talk topic that it’s almost cliché.

There even is a weather-related German phrase that is jokingly used to fill an awkward silence: “Schönes Wetter heute” (Nice weather today).

How do you say “weather” in German?

If you’re wondering How to say “weather” in German, you’re in luck because it’s almost the same word as in English: Wetter. It’s pronounced just like the English “wetter”, just with a “v”-sound in the beginning (vetter).

In order to talk about the weather, it’s important to understand these terms:

• Weather (Wetter) is the general term for the atmospheric conditions over a short period of time.
• Climate (Klima) is how the weather behaves in a specific location over a longer period of time.
• Temperature (Temperatur) is a physical quantity that measures a degree of heat. In Germany, temperatures are measured in Celsius instead of Fahrenheit. 1°C is 33,8°F.
• Precipitation (Niederschlag) is any water that has formed in the atmosphere and then fallen back to the Earth in some shape or form, including rain, snow, hail and sleet.

How to talk about the weather in German

Here are some common ways to start a conversation about the weather.

Questions:

Wie ist das Wetter bei dir?

How is the weather where you are?

Wie ist das Wetter heute?

How is the weather today?

Was wird heute die Höchsttemperatur?

What’s the temperature going to reach today?

Weißt du, ob es heute regnen soll?

Do you know if it’s supposed to rain today?

Wie ist das Klima da, wo du herkommst?

What’s the climate like where you’re from?

Magst du lieber wärmeres oder kälteres Wetter?

Do you prefer warmer or colder weather?

Was ist deine Lieblingsjahreszeit?

What’s your favorite season?

Answers:

As a response, you can talk about the weather including precipitation and temperatures or you can use subjective expressions. The weather has a direct influence on us so we often talk about it in terms of how it affects us.

Sieht so, als würden es heute Morgen nur 5 Grad werden.

It’s looking like it will be as cold as 5 degrees this morning.

Es ist sonnig, aber mit einer lauen Brise.

It’s sunny but with a cool breeze.

Wir kriegen heute schlechtes Wetter.

We’ll get bad weather today.

Heute soll es schönes Wetter geben!

Today it’s supposed to be nice weather!

Ich hoffe, das Wetter bleibt so gut.

I hope the weather stays this good.

List of weather terms in German

Weather-related sentences are usually very simple. You say “Es ist” (It is) and add a suitable adjective that describes the current weather conditions.

• Es ist + sonnig: It is + sunny
• Es ist + bewölkt: It is + overcast
• Es ist + windig: It is + windy

You can also point out specific weather phenomena.

• Schau, es regnet.: Look, it’s raining.
• Guck dir mal den schönen Regenbogen an!: Look at that beautiful rainbow!
• Hast du die Nordlichter gesehen?: Did you see the Northern Lights?

Everyday weather terms in German

Here is a list of everyday weather terms in German that will come in handy for simple descriptions of the weather and pointing out different weather phenomena.

Understanding the weather forecast in German

You might be watching the weather forecast on German tv or, more likely, you forgot to check the weather and have to ask a German-speaker who knows more than you. These phrases will be handy to understand what the weather will be like.

Extreme weather terms in German

We have always witnessed extreme weather conditions and natural disasters like hurricanes, floods and droughts but in recent years, their drastic increase and its devastating effects on the planet have become undeniable.

In the last 30 years alone, climate-related disasters have tripled in numbers. Now, more than ever, it’s important to talk about these phenomena on a global level. That’s why it’s so important to learn how to talk about the weather in other languages. That way, we can all discuss the issue and take responsibility together.

Talking about the temperature in German

The key to learning how to say the temperature in German is to remember how to count in German.

Then you only need to convert the temperatures from Celsius to Fahrenheit in your head.

Luckily, Celsius makes a lot of sense: 0°C is the freezing point of water, while 100°C is the boiling point.

Other important weather terms in German

German has some big weather-related words that you can use to impress others when talking about the weather - from “Schneeballschlacht” to “Meeresoberflächentemperatur”.

Weather related expressions in German

Weather-related expressions are often easy to guess because it’s so obvious what the weather means to us. If we look like a “watered poodle” or “make a face like seven days of rain”, that obviously doesn’t mean we look very happy!

When is a good time to visit Germany, Austria and Switzerland?

In Germany, Austria and Switzerland you’ll generally get the best weather from May through September. July is the warmest month with regular highs around 75°F (24°C) and temperatures rarely dropping below 57°F (14°C) at night.

In winter, the average temperatures are between 0°C (32 °F) and 3 °C (37 °F), mostly depending on the altitude. The South, including Bavaria, is generally colder, especially up in the mountains.

From December through April you’re likely to see some snow in most of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, which can be nice, too if that’s what you’re looking for. Especially in December, some snow will make your trip to the German Christmas markets extra magical.

Holy thunder weather

Heiliges Donnerwetter - so many things that can and need to be said about the weather! It all depends on your experience level and what you’re in the mood for.

Speaking about the weather can mean anything, from the most basic statement about how nice the weather is to a lively discussion about the impact of climate change. That way, it gives you a broad spectrum of things to say that will come in handy in any situation.

One last tip: If you ever get stuck inside during a snowstorm, make sure you have enough reading material. Start with our sunny language blog!