Italian for Beginners: Chat About the Weather and Keep the Conversation Going
Learn to make small talk about the weather in Italian: comment on the day, agree, and extend the conversation naturally.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
Weather is the classic conversation starter in many cultures, and Italian is no exception. In this lesson, you'll learn how to make casual comments like 'Nice day, isn't it?' or 'It's freezing today!' and how to respond when someone says them to you. You'll also learn to add a follow-up question or comment to keep the chat going. This is everyday, spoken Italian—not a formal weather report—so the focus is on friendly, interactive exchanges. We'll use standard Italian, with notes on regional variations where relevant.
By the end, you can…
- make a simple weather comment to start a conversation.
- agree with someone's weather comment.
- extend a weather conversation with a follow-up question or remark.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Che bella giornata, vero?
Nice day, isn't it?
keh BEL-lah jor-NAH-tah, VEH-roh
Use when the weather is pleasant. 'Vero?' is like 'isn't it?' and invites agreement. Common in all regions.
Che freddo che fa oggi!
It's freezing today!
keh FREHD-doh keh fah OHD-jee
Literally 'What cold it makes today!' Use to complain about the cold. 'Che... che fa' is a common emphatic pattern.
Sì, davvero!
Yes, really!
see, dah-VEH-roh
A simple way to agree. You can also say 'Hai ragione!' (You're right!) or 'Proprio così!' (Exactly!).
Speriamo che duri.
Let's hope it lasts.
speh-RYAH-moh keh DOO-ree
Use after a positive weather comment to extend the conversation. 'Duri' is the subjunctive form of 'durare' (to last).
E domani? Che tempo farà?
And tomorrow? What will the weather be like?
eh doh-MAH-nee? keh TEM-poh fah-RAH
A natural follow-up question. 'Farà' is the future of 'fare' used for weather. You can also ask 'Che tempo fa?' for the present.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To make a weather comment, you can use 'Che + adjective + giornata!' or 'Che + noun + che fa!'. For example: 'Che bella giornata!' (What a nice day!), 'Che caldo che fa!' (It's so hot!), 'Che freddo che fa!' (It's so cold!). The word 'che' is used for emphasis, similar to 'what a' or 'so' in English. To soften the comment and invite agreement, add 'vero?' at the end: 'Che bella giornata, vero?' This is like saying 'isn't it?' in English. You can also use 'no?' in a similar way, but 'vero?' is more common in this context.
When to use it
Use these expressions in casual, spoken situations: with neighbors, colleagues, shopkeepers, or people you meet in a waiting room. They are perfect for breaking the ice. Avoid using them in formal written communication or with people you don't know well in a very formal setting; in those cases, a simple 'Buongiorno' is safer. When someone makes a weather comment to you, it's polite to agree and then add a short follow-up. For example, if they say 'Che freddo che fa oggi!', you can reply 'Sì, davvero! Speriamo che non duri.' (Yes, really! Let's hope it doesn't last.) This keeps the conversation going. If you disagree, you can say 'Mah, io non lo trovo così freddo' (Well, I don't find it so cold), but do so gently.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Che bella giornata oggi, vero?
Nice day today, isn't it?keh BEL-lah jor-NAH-tah OHD-jee, VEH-rohSì, davvero! Speriamo che duri.
Yes, really! Let's hope it lasts.see, dah-VEH-roh! speh-RYAH-moh keh DOO-reeGià. E domani? Che tempo farà?
Indeed. And tomorrow? What will the weather be like?jah. eh doh-MAH-nee? keh TEM-poh fah-RAHDicono pioggia. Che peccato!
They say rain. What a shame!DEE-koh-noh PYOHD-jah. keh pek-KAH-tohA little context goes a long way
Weather small talk is common in Italy, but the way you agree can vary. In northern Italy, people might be more direct, while in the south, they might be more animated. Using 'vero?' at the end of a comment is widespread and friendly. Remember that in Italian, weather expressions often use 'fare' (to do/make): 'Fa caldo' (It's hot), 'Fa freddo' (It's cold). This is different from English 'It is'. Also, when you meet someone, it's common to comment on the weather after greeting them, especially if you don't know them well. It's a safe topic that can lead to other subjects.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'È bella giornata' instead of 'Che bella giornata'.
Try this instead: In Italian, to make an exclamation like 'What a nice day!', you need 'Che' before the adjective and noun: 'Che bella giornata!' Without 'Che', 'È una bella giornata' is a plain statement of fact ('It's a nice day'), not an exclamation. Similarly, for weather you say 'Fa freddo' (It's cold), not 'È freddo' — 'È freddo' describes an object as cold (e.g., 'Il ghiaccio è freddo'). So remember: 'Che bella giornata!' and 'Fa freddo!'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'Nice day, isn't it?' in Italian?
Show a sample answer
Che bella giornata, vero?
This uses the pattern 'Che + adjective + noun' and adds 'vero?' to invite agreement. You could also say 'Che bella giornata, no?' but 'vero?' is more common.
2Someone says 'Che freddo che fa oggi!' How can you agree and extend the conversation?
Show a sample answer
Sì, davvero! Speriamo che non duri.
This agrees with 'Sì, davvero!' and extends with a hope that it won't last. Other valid responses: 'Hai ragione! Che freddo!' or 'Sì, è gelido!'
3What is the correct way to say 'It's hot' in Italian?
Show a sample answer
Fa caldo.
Italian uses 'fare' for weather: 'Fa caldo' (It's hot), 'Fa freddo' (It's cold). Using 'È caldo' would mean 'It is hot' referring to an object, not the weather.
To chat about the weather in Italian, start with 'Che bella giornata, vero?' or 'Che freddo che fa!', agree with 'Sì, davvero!', and keep it going with a follow-up like 'Speriamo che duri' or 'E domani?'
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