Weather, Seasons, and Small Talk: Spanish Words to Spark Real Conversations

It’s easy to start learning Spanish with colors, numbers, and animal names, but what happens when your child wants to say something real, like “It’s cloudy,” or “I love sunny days”? That’s when Spanish truly comes to life.

Talking about the weather and seasons is one of the easiest ways to get kids speaking naturally, even at the beginner level. It gives them a reason to speak every day; no textbook is needed. Whether your child is just starting their Spanish journey or already knows a few words, weather-related small talk is the perfect way to build confidence and communication skills.

In this blog, you’ll learn 30+ beginner-friendly Spanish words and phrases grouped into helpful themes. Each one is designed to be useful, easy to remember, and instantly relevant to your child’s daily life. Let’s turn the weather into your family’s Spanish conversation starter!

1. ¿Qué tiempo hace? – Talking About the Weather

The first step in any weather conversation is being able to describe what’s happening outside. These words help your child answer the question ¿Qué tiempo hace? (“What’s the weather like?”) in real time.

• Hace sol – It’s sunny
  A common way to describe sunny days.
  Hace sol en el parque hoy.
  It’s sunny at the park today.
• Está nublado – It’s cloudy
  Use this when the sky is full of clouds.
  Está nublado, pero no llueve.
  It’s cloudy, but it’s not raining.
• Llueve – It’s raining
  Great for rainy-day routines.
  Llueve mucho en abril.
  It rains a lot in April.
• Hace calor – It’s hot
  A phrase kids use often, especially in summer.
  Hace mucho calor. ¡Quiero helado!
  It’s really hot. I want ice cream!
• Hace frío – It’s cold
  Useful during colder months or mornings.
  Hace frío por la mañana.
  It’s cold in the morning.
• Está nevando – It’s snowing
  For places with winter weather.
  Está nevando en las montañas.
  It’s snowing in the mountains.
• Hace viento – It’s windy
  Helpful for outdoor play.
  No podemos volar el papalote. Hace mucho viento.
  We can’t fly the kite. It’s too windy.
• Hay tormenta – There’s a storm
  Use when there’s thunder, lightning, or heavy rain.
  Hay tormenta esta noche.
  There’s a storm tonight.
• Está húmedo – It’s humid
  Perfect for tropical climates.
  Hoy está muy húmedo en la ciudad.
  It’s very humid in the city today.
• El pronóstico – The forecast
  Talk about what’s expected.
  El pronóstico dice que lloverá mañana.
  The forecast says it will rain tomorrow.

In many Latin American countries, especially tropical ones, seasons don’t change dramatically, so weather expressions like “Hace calor” or “Llueve mucho” are used year-round!

2. Las estaciones – Naming the Seasons

Learning the seasons helps your child build vocabulary around their activities, holidays, and favorite times of the year.

• La primavera – Spring
  Think flowers and fresh air.
  La primavera es mi estación favorita.
  Spring is my favorite season.
• El verano – Summer
  School’s out—and it’s hot!
  En el verano, vamos a la playa.
  In the summer, we go to the beach.
• El otoño – Fall (Autumn)
  Used to describe cooler weather and changing leaves.
  El otoño tiene colores bonitos.
  Fall has beautiful colors.
• El invierno – Winter
  For snow, jackets, and holidays.
  En el invierno, tomamos chocolate caliente.
  In winter, we drink hot chocolate.
• Hace buen tiempo – The weather is nice
  General way to describe pleasant conditions.
  Hoy hace buen tiempo para jugar afuera.
  The weather is nice today for playing outside.
• Hace mal tiempo – The weather is bad
  Useful when it’s too rainy, stormy, or cold.
  No salimos porque hace mal tiempo.
  We didn’t go out because the weather is bad.

3. El clima y tú – Expressing How the Weather Feels

Help your child connect language with how they feel in different weather conditions.

• Estoy feliz – I’m happy
  Estoy feliz cuando hace sol.
  I’m happy when it’s sunny.
• Estoy aburrido(a) – I’m bored
  Estoy aburrido cuando llueve.
  I’m bored when it rains.
• Estoy cansado(a) – I’m tired
  Hace calor y estoy cansado.
  It’s hot and I’m tired.
• Estoy emocionado(a) – I’m excited
  Estoy emocionado por la nieve.
  I’m excited about the snow.
• Me gusta la lluvia – I like the rain
  Me gusta la lluvia porque leo libros.
  I like the rain because I read books.
• No me gusta el frío – I don’t like the cold
  No me gusta el frío en el invierno.
  I don’t like the cold in winter.
• Prefiero el verano – I prefer summer
  Prefiero el verano porque nado en la piscina.
  I prefer summer because I swim in the pool.

4. Conversaciones pequeñas – Small Talk for Daily Practice

These ready-made questions and responses give your child a chance to use all the vocabulary in natural conversation.

• ¿Qué tiempo hace hoy? – What’s the weather like today?
  ¿Qué tiempo hace hoy? ¿Hace sol o llueve?
  What’s the weather like today? Is it sunny or raining?
• Hoy hace sol/frío/nublado. – Today it’s sunny/cold/cloudy
  Hoy hace nublado y no salimos.
  It’s cloudy today and we’re not going out.
• ¡Qué calor hace! – It’s so hot!
  ¡Qué calor hace! Necesito agua.
  It’s so hot! I need water.
• Parece que va a llover. – Looks like it’s going to rain
  Parece que va a llover esta tarde.
  It looks like it will rain this afternoon.
• ¿Te gusta este clima? – Do you like this weather?
  Sí, me gusta cuando hace fresco.
  Yes, I like it when it’s cool.

Practice these questions at the window each morning or during your commute, weather small talk is perfect for routines.

Bonus Activity: Match & Speak Mini Challenge

Step 1: Match the Word to the Season

1. Hace calor → ___
2. Está nevando → ___
3. Hace viento → ___
4. Llueve mucho → ___

Options: A) Primavera B) Invierno C) Verano D) Otoño

Step 2: Say a Mini-Dialogue Together
A: ¿Qué tiempo hace hoy?
B: (Your child answers using 2 weather words from above)

Step 3: Add how it makes them feel:
Estoy feliz porque hace sol.

This quick game strengthens comprehension and builds confidence in speaking aloud.

Conclusion: Weather Words that Work—Every Day

Spanish shouldn’t stay stuck in flashcards, and weather words are the perfect first step for your child into real conversation. These phrases let kids talk about what’s around them, how they feel, and what they love. From sunny mornings to cozy rainy days, there’s always something to say.

With just a few words, your child can begin greeting family in Spanish, describing their favorite seasons, and responding naturally to real-life questions.

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