French · Nature, Animals & Weather
"Weather" in French: temps
le temps
Note: forecast: la météo
Weather in French is le temps, masculine. La météo is the forecast. Say il fait beau for nice weather and quel temps fait-il ? to ask about it.
Morning chat
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How to pronounce temps
Say it
tahm
/tɑ̃/
Tahm—nasal like temps in "bon temps". Soft t. Météo is may-tay-OH. Faire is key in weather: il fait…
"Weather" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le temps | weather / time Context decides weather vs time. | Context decides weather vs time. |
| la météo | weather forecast News and apps. | News and apps. |
| il fait beau / mauvais | the weather is nice / bad Core small-talk lines. | Core small-talk lines. |
| quel temps fait-il ? | what's the weather like? Standard question. | Standard question. |
How to use temps in real life
- 1Morning chat
Quel temps fait-il aujourd'hui ?
What's the weather like today?
Classic question.
- 2Looking outside
Le temps est vraiment agréable.
The weather is really pleasant.
Le temps + adjective.
- 3Before a picnic
Tu as vu le temps ?
Did you see the weather?
Le temps for the weather itself.
Mistakes English speakers make with temps
Incorrect: Il est beau temps.
Correct: Il fait beau. / Il fait beau temps.
Weather uses faire: il fait beau.
Incorrect: La temps est froid.
Correct: Le temps est froid.
Temps is masculine.
Good to know
Weather small talk is alive in French queues and lifts: il fait doux, il fait lourd, ça caille. Temps also means time, so le temps qu'il fait helps specify weather.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Planning a walk after breakfast
ChatPal
Le temps a l'air gentil ce matin.
The weather looks kind this morning.
You
Oui. Tu as regardé la météo ?
Yes. Did you check the forecast?
ChatPal
Oui, beau temps jusqu'à midi.
Yes, nice weather until noon.
You
Parfait. J'adore ce temps-là.
Perfect. I love that weather.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Weather" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Weather" in French
Temps or météo?
Temps is the weather itself; météo is the forecast.
How do I say nice weather?
Il fait beau or il fait beau temps.
Why il fait and not il est?
French weather expressions often use faire: il fait chaud, il fait froid.
Does temps also mean time?
Yes. Context—or le temps qu'il fait—makes weather clear.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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