¡Hola! Understanding and talking about the weather is a fundamental part of daily conversation in any language. In this chapter, we'll explore 'El Clima y las Estaciones' (The Weather and Seasons). You'll learn how to describe various weather conditions and discuss the different times of the year. This knowledge will help you plan activities, understand weather reports, and engage in everyday small talk.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
(Optional Review): From Chapter 15, remember how we used "hacer" for some general activities (e.g., hacer la tarea)? We'll see "hacer" used in a very common way to talk about weather! Also, think about the verb "estar" from Chapter 7 – how might it be used to describe a current weather condition like "cloudy"?
Used for general weather conditions, often those you feel.
Used to describe the state of the weather or ongoing weather actions.
Used to state the existence of weather phenomena.
These verbs are often used impersonally in the third person singular.
(Note: llover (o:ue) and nevar (e:ie) are stem-changing verbs.)
Master vocabulary for weather and seasons.
Import Chapter 24 Flashcards(Requires login to import/study)
Instructions: Match the Spanish weather term with its English equivalent.
la nieve ( ) rain
el sol ( ) wind
la lluvia ( ) cloudy
el viento ( ) snow
nublado ( ) sunAnswer Key:
la nieve → snow
el sol → sun
la lluvia → rain
el viento → wind
nublado → cloudyInstructions: Choose the best way to express the weather described.
Answer Key:
Instructions: Which season is typically associated with each description? (Primavera, Verano, Otoño, Invierno)
Answer Key:
Instructions: Write three Spanish sentences describing the weather where you are today using different expressions (hace, está, hay).
(Answers will vary.)
Instructions: Write two sentences about your favorite season and the typical weather during that season. (e.g., Mi estación favorita es el verano porque hace calor y sol.)
(Answers will vary.)
Instructions: Translate the following questions into Spanish.
Answer Key:
Instructions: In pairs, one person is the weather reporter, and the other is the TV anchor. The anchor asks "¿Qué tiempo hace hoy en [city]?" and the reporter describes the weather using varied expressions. Switch roles.
Instructions: Discuss your favorite and least favorite seasons with a partner. Explain why, mentioning typical weather and activities.
Example Starter: Student A: ¿Cuál es tu estación favorita?
The vast geographical diversity of Spanish-speaking countries means a wide range of climates. From the tropical rainforests of the Amazon to the snowy peaks of the Andes, and the deserts of northern Mexico to the temperate regions of Spain and the Southern Cone, weather plays a significant role in daily life, agriculture, and cultural traditions.
Many festivals and local holidays are tied to seasons and weather patterns (e.g., harvest festivals, spring celebrations).
Weather is a common topic for small talk, just as in many other cultures. Knowing a few basic phrases can be a great way to start a conversation.
El tiempo : Refers to "weather" – the atmospheric conditions at a specific time and place (e.g., today's weather).
Example: ¿Qué tiempo hace hoy? (What's the weather like today?)
El clima : Refers to "climate" – the long-term average weather patterns of a region.
Example: El clima en el Caribe es tropical. (The climate in the Caribbean is tropical.)
Key takeaway: "Tiempo" for daily weather, "clima" for long-term climate.
To describe how a person feels (hot/cold): Use tener + calor/frío.
Example: Tengo calor. (I am hot.)
Example: Tengo frío. (I am cold.)
To describe the weather: Use hacer + calor/frío.
Example: Hace calor. (It's hot weather.)
To describe the temperature of an object: Use estar + caliente/frío/a.
Example: El café está caliente. (The coffee is hot.)
Example: El agua está fría. (The water is cold.)
Key takeaway: Distinguish between feeling hot/cold (tener), weather being hot/cold (hacer), and an object being hot/cold (estar + adjective).
Let's read about a year in a small town.
En Villa Soleada, el tiempo cambia mucho durante el año.
En la primavera, hace buen tiempo. A veces llueve un poco, pero generalmente está soleado y fresco. Hay muchas flores en los jardines.
Luego llega el verano. ¡En verano hace mucho calor! Casi todos los días hace sol. La gente va a la piscina o a la playa para escapar del calor.
Después del verano, viene el otoño. En otoño, hace viento y las temperaturas bajan. A veces está nublado. Los árboles cambian de color.
Finalmente, llega el invierno. En invierno, en Villa Soleada, hace mucho frío y a veces nieva. La gente lleva abrigos y bufandas.
In Villa Soleada (Sunnyville), the weather changes a lot during the year.
In spring, it's good weather. Sometimes it rains a little, but generally it's sunny and cool. There are many flowers in the gardens.
Then summer arrives. In summer, it's very hot! Almost every day is sunny. People go to the pool or the beach to escape the heat.
After summer, autumn comes. In autumn, it's windy and the temperatures drop. Sometimes it's cloudy. The trees change color.
Finally, winter arrives. In winter, in Villa Soleada, it's very cold and sometimes it snows. People wear coats and scarves.
Weather: el clima, el tiempo, el sol, soleado/a, la nube, nublado/a, la lluvia, llover, la nieve, nevar, el viento, la tormenta, el trueno, el relámpago, la niebla, el granizo, el calor, el frío, fresco/a, templado/a, húmedo/a, seco/a, la temperatura, los grados.
Seasons: la primavera, el verano, el otoño, el invierno.
Using "hace" (hace sol, frío, calor, viento, buen/mal tiempo), "estar" (está soleado, nublado, lloviendo, nevando), "hay" (hay niebla, tormenta, nubes), and verbs like "llover" and "nevar" to talk about weather.
¡Muy bien! Now you can talk about the weather and seasons. In our next chapter, 'Describiendo Lugares' (Describing Places), we will combine our knowledge of descriptive adjectives and location words to talk about cities, towns, and natural landscapes. Get ready to describe your favorite places around the world!