French for Beginners: Make Small Talk About the Weather
Learn beginner French weather phrases to start a short, polite conversation, ask a simple follow-up, and end it naturally without going into deep topics.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
Weather is one of the safest ways to start a short conversation in French. You do not need to discuss anything personal; you can simply notice the weather, make one brief comment, and let the other person respond. This lesson teaches beginner-level phrases for starting, responding to, and politely ending light weather small talk. You will also learn a few common patterns, such as using il fait for general conditions and il y a for rain or clouds. Keep your comments short and friendly, and avoid turning weather into a long discussion.
By the end, you can…
- make a simple weather comment to start a conversation.
- ask and answer one polite follow-up question about the weather.
- end a short weather exchange politely.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Il fait beau aujourd'hui, non ?
The weather is nice today, isn't it?
eel feh boh oh-zhoor-DWEE, no(n)
A friendly, common opener in France. The tag non ? invites agreement without demanding a long answer.
Il fait mauvais.
The weather is bad.
eel feh moh-VEH
Use il fait with an adjective for general weather conditions. It is neutral and brief.
Il y a du vent.
It's windy.
eel yah dew vahn
Use il y a for something present, such as wind, rain, or clouds. Note that il fait du vent is also used in French, especially in weather forecasts, but il y a du vent is the more common everyday choice.
Quel temps fait-il ?
What's the weather like?
kel tah(n) feh-TEEL
A standard question. In casual conversation, people often just say Il fait beau ? or Il pleut ? with rising intonation.
Bonne journée !
Have a good day!
bun zhoor-NAY
A polite closing after a short exchange. It signals that you are ending the conversation kindly.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
For general weather, use il fait + adjective: Il fait beau, Il fait froid, Il fait chaud. For rain or clouds, use il y a: Il y a du soleil, Il y a des nuages. For rain as an action, use il pleut. These patterns let you make a short comment without building a complex sentence.
When to use it
Use a weather comment when you are waiting with someone, greeting a neighbor, or starting a shop exchange. Keep it to one or two sentences. If the other person gives a short answer such as Oui, c'est vrai, you can reply C'est ça or Bonne journée and stop. Do not ask personal questions after a weather comment unless the other person clearly wants to continue.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Il fait beau aujourd'hui, non ?
The weather is nice today, isn't it?eel feh boh oh-zhoor-DWEE, no(n)Oui, c'est agréable. Il y a un peu de vent, mais ça va.
Yes, it's pleasant. It's a bit windy, but it's fine.wee, seh tah-gray-AHB-luh. eel yah uh(n) puh duh vah(n), meh sah vahTant mieux. Bonne journée !
Good. Have a good day!tah(n) myuh. bun zhoor-NAYMerci, vous aussi !
Thank you, you too!mair-SEE, voo oh-SEEA little context goes a long way
In France, weather small talk is common with neighbors, shop staff, and people you see regularly, but it is usually brief. Using vous with strangers and tu with friends or peers is important. In Quebec, weather comments are also common, but local expressions and pronunciation differ; for example, you may hear il fait frette for 'it's cold' in informal Quebec French. Keep your register neutral unless you know the person well.
One thing to watch for
Saying Il fait du vent for 'It's windy.'
Try this instead: Use Il y a du vent. Il fait is for general conditions with adjectives, as in Il fait beau or Il fait froid. For wind, rain, or clouds as things that are present, use il y a: Il y a du vent, Il y a de la pluie, Il y a des nuages.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'It's nice out today, isn't it?' in a friendly, brief way?
Show a sample answer
Il fait beau aujourd'hui, non ?
This uses il fait + beau for a general weather condition and adds non ? as a short tag. Il fait beau aujourd'hui ? is also possible with rising intonation.
2Which phrase means 'It's windy'?
Show a sample answer
Il y a du vent.
French uses il y a for wind as something present. Il fait du vent is also used in French, especially in weather forecasts, but il y a du vent is the more common everyday choice.
3You have made one weather comment and the other person answers briefly. What is a polite way to end the exchange?
Show a sample answer
Bonne journée !
Bonne journée is a natural, polite closing. Merci, bonne journée ! also works. You do not need to add another weather question.
Start with one short weather comment, respond briefly, and close politely with Bonne journée. Keep it light, use il fait for general conditions and il y a for rain, wind, or clouds, and do not turn weather into a long conversation.
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