Weather is a useful conversation topic when you can connect it to what someone wants to do. This fictional exchange describes rain and a suggestion to stay indoors. It is language practice, not a forecast. Pay attention to the difference between describing the weather and saying how you feel.
A short exchange
| Τι καιρό κάνει σήμερα; | What is the weather like today? |
| Κάνει κρύο και βρέχει. | It’s cold and it’s raining. |
| Θέλεις να πάμε μια βόλτα; | Would you like to go for a walk? |
| Όχι τώρα. Κρυώνω. Να μείνουμε μέσα; | Not now. I’m cold. Shall we stay inside? |
| Εντάξει. Θέλεις έναν καφέ; | All right. Would you like a coffee? |
| Ναι, ευχαριστώ. | Yes, thank you. |
Ask about the weather
Τι καιρό κάνει; asks what the weather is like. Add σήμερα for today. Useful replies include Κάνει κρύο, “It’s cold”, Κάνει ζέστη, “It’s hot”, and Βρέχει, “It’s raining”. Learn these as short expressions instead of translating the English subject “it” separately.
Distinguish the weather from your feeling
Κάνει κρύο describes cold weather. Κρυώνω means “I’m cold” or “I feel cold”. Similarly, Κάνει ζέστη describes hot weather, while Ζεσταίνομαι can say that you feel hot. In the dialogue, the speaker uses Κρυώνω to explain a personal feeling before proposing to stay inside.
Describe another condition
Έχει ήλιο means “It’s sunny” and Έχει αέρα means “It’s windy”. These use έχει, unlike κάνει κρύο. Do not force every weather word into one pattern. Practise three separate models: Κάνει κρύο. Έχει ήλιο. Βρέχει. Then choose the one that fits an invented picture.
Connect the weather to a plan
Να μείνουμε μέσα; proposes staying inside. Να πάμε μια βόλτα; proposes going for a walk. Μέσα means “inside” and έξω means “outside”. A person can decline a walk without rejecting the conversation: Όχι τώρα means “Not now”, and the exchange continues with coffee.
Check what happened
- What two weather conditions are mentioned?
- Which phrase says “I feel cold”: Κάνει κρύο or Κρυώνω?
- Does the speaker accept the walk immediately?
- What indoor drink is offered?
See the answers
1. Cold and rain. 2. Κρυώνω. 3. No: Όχι τώρα. The speaker proposes staying inside. 4. Coffee: έναν καφέ. No future change in the weather is stated.
Change the scene
Imagine a sunny day and start with Έχει ήλιο. Propose a walk using Να πάμε μια βόλτα; Have your partner either accept or say Όχι τώρα. Then swap the sunny scene for rain and change the weather phrase. Keep the response about the plan consistent with what your partner actually says.
Other ways to say it
- Τι καιρό κάνει; or Πώς είναι ο καιρός; — both ask “What’s the weather like?”
- Κάνει πολύ κρύο. — it’s very cold; Κάνει λίγο κρύο. or Κάνει ψύχρα. — it’s a bit chilly.
- Κάνει πολλή ζέστη. — it’s very hot.
- Χιονίζει. — it’s snowing; Έχει συννεφιά. — it’s cloudy; Έχει λιακάδα. — it’s sunny and bright.
- Θα βρέξει αύριο; — Will it rain tomorrow?
Common mistakes
- Translating “I am cold” word for word: say Κρυώνω, not Είμαι κρύο.
- Using είναι for the weather: say Κάνει κρύο. Είναι κρύο describes a thing, as in Το νερό είναι κρύο.
- Using κάνει with sun and wind: say Έχει ήλιο and Έχει αέρα, not Κάνει ήλιο.
- Writing πολύ ζέστη: ζέστη is feminine, so it is πολλή ζέστη, while πολύ κρύο stays as it is.
FAQ
How do you say “It’s hot” in Greek? Κάνει ζέστη. For very hot weather, Κάνει πολλή ζέστη. To say that you feel hot, use Ζεσταίνομαι.
How do you ask “What’s the weather like?” in Greek? Ask Τι καιρό κάνει; or Πώς είναι ο καιρός; Add σήμερα for today.
How do you say “It’s snowing” in Greek? Χιονίζει. Like Βρέχει, it needs no separate word for “it”.
Practise inviting someone for coffee. Talk about free-time activities.