Easy weather word in English: A Beginner’s Guide
BEGINNER ENGLISH • EVERYDAY VOCABULARY
Learn how to talk about the weather in English with simple questions, useful weather vocabulary and easy sentences. Practise with two examples for each word or pattern, learn a weather idiom, then try a short activity.
Download this PDF for a quick guide, or continue reading for a more detailed explanation.
1. How to ask about the weather
Use “What’s the weather like?” to ask about the weather. You can add a day, a place or a season.
“What’s the weather like today?” “It’s warm and sunny.”
“What’s the weather like in London in winter?” “It’s usually cold.”
Ask a yes-or-no question
Use “Is it…?” when you want to check the weather before going outside.
“Is it cold outside?” “Yes, take a jacket.”
“Is it raining?” “No, it’s just cloudy.”
💡 Weather or preference? “What’s the weather like?” asks about the conditions. “What weather do you like?” asks about your preference.
“What’s the weather like?” → “It’s sunny.” “What weather do you like?” → “I like sunny weather.”
“What’s the weather like in winter?” → “It’s cold.” “What weather do you like?” → “I like cold weather.”
2. Everyday weather words
Use these common English weather words to describe what you can see and feel.
Weather word + meaning | Two examples |
|---|---|
☀️ Sunny The sun is shining. | It’s sunny today. Let’s go out while it’s sunny. |
☁️ Cloudy There are lots of clouds. | It’s cloudy this morning. It’s cloudy, but it isn’t raining. |
🌧️ Rainy There is a lot of rain. | It’s a rainy day. We’ve had a rainy week. |
🌬️ Windy The air is moving strongly. | It’s windy outside. It’s too windy for an umbrella. |
❄️ Snowy There is snow. | It’s a snowy morning. We had a snowy winter. |
🌫️ Foggy Thick cloud near the ground makes it hard to see. | It’s foggy this morning. Drive slowly. It’s very foggy. |
How hot or cold is it?
🔥 HOT → ☀️ WARM → 🍃 COOL → ❄️ COLD
Temperature | Two examples |
|---|---|
Hot • a high temperature | It’s hot today. It’s too hot to walk far. |
Warm • a little hot, often pleasant | It’s warm outside. It’s warm enough to eat in the garden. |
Cool • a little cold | It’s cool this evening. The mornings are cool here. |
Cold • a low temperature | It’s cold outside. It’s too cold to sit here. |
3. Make your own weather sentences
It’s + describing word
Use it’s (it is) before words such as sunny, windy, hot and cold.
“It’s windy. Close the window.” “It’s cold. Take a jacket.”
It’s raining / It’s snowing
Use these when rain or snow is falling now.
“It’s raining. Take an umbrella.” “It’s snowing. Look outside!”
It’s a + describing word + day
Remember a before the describing word when you include day.
“It’s a sunny day. Let’s go for a walk.” “It’s a rainy day. Let’s stay inside.”
💡 Rainy describes the weather over a period of time. Raining tells us that rain is falling now. The same difference applies to snowy and snowing.
“It’s a rainy week, but it isn’t raining at the moment.” “It’s a snowy day, but it isn’t snowing right now.”
4. A weather idiom: under the weather
UNDER THE WEATHER = FEELING SLIGHTLY ILL
An idiom is a phrase with a special meaning. This one describes how someone feels, not the weather outside.
“I’m feeling a bit under the weather today.” “Anna’s under the weather, so she’s resting at home.”
5. Try it yourself
Choose a day
A forecast tells us what the weather is expected to be like. Look at this example forecast and answer the two questions.
Day | Forecast |
|---|---|
Monday | ☀️ Sunny and warm • 23°C |
Tuesday | 🌧️ Rainy and cold • 9°C |
Wednesday | ☁️ Cloudy and cool • 16°C |
1. Which day is best for a picnic? Why? 2. Which day would you take an umbrella?
Fill the gaps
Choose: sunny / raining
1. It’s ________. Take an umbrella. 2. It’s a ________ day. Let’s go to the beach.
Talk about your weather
Say your answers aloud, or write two short sentences.
1. What’s the weather like where you are today? 2. What weather do you like?
Example answers: “It’s warm and cloudy here today.” “I like sunny weather because I can sit outside.”
Check your answers
Forecast: 1. Monday, because it’s sunny and warm. 2. Tuesday, because it’s rainy. Fill the gaps: 1. raining 2. sunny
