Weather is one of the most common conversation topics anywhere in the world. In Arabic-speaking countries, from the scorching deserts of Saudi Arabia to the Mediterranean coasts of Lebanon, knowing how to talk about weather is essential for daily life and small talk.
Weather Vocabulary
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| طقس | ṭaqs | weather |
| شمس | shams | sun |
| قمر | qamar | moon |
| نجمة | najma | star |
| سماء | samā’ | sky |
| مطر | maṭar | rain |
| ثلج | thalj | snow |
| رياح | riyāḥ | wind |
| غيم | ghaym | clouds |
| حر | ḥarr | heat |
| برد | bard | cold |
| حار | ḥār | hot (weather) |
| بارد | bārid | cold (weather) |
| رعد | ra3d | thunder |
| برق | barq | lightning |
| قوس قزح | qaws quzḥ | rainbow |
| ضباب | ḍabāb | fog |
| عواصف | 3awāṣif | storms |
| فيضانات | fayḍānāt | floods |
| جفاف | jafāf | drought |
Seasons
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ربيع | rabee3 | spring |
| صيف | ṣayf | summer |
| خريف | khareef | autumn / fall |
| شتاء | shitaa’ | winter |
| فصل | faṣl | season |
| أشهر الحصاد | ash-hur al-ḥaṣād | harvest months |
| بداية | bidāya | beginning |
| نهاية | nihāya | end |
Describing Weather
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| الطقس حار | aṭ-ṭaqsu ḥār | the weather is hot |
| الطقس بارد | aṭ-ṭaqsu bārid | the weather is cold |
| الطقس جميل | aṭ-ṭaqsu jamīl | the weather is nice |
| الطقس رطب | aṭ-ṭaqsu raṭib | the weather is humid |
| الطقس جاف | aṭ-ṭaqsu jāf | the weather is dry |
| السماء صافية | as-samā’ ṣāfiya | the sky is clear |
| السماء غائمة | as-samā’ ghā’ima | the sky is cloudy |
| الشمس ساطعة | ash-shamsu sāṭi3a | the sun is shining |
| الرياح قوية | ar-riyāḥu qawīya | the wind is strong |
| الرياح خفيفة | ar-riyāḥu khafīfa | the wind is light |
| تمطر | tamṭir | it’s raining |
| تثلج | tathlij | it’s snowing |
| الضباب كثيف | aḍ-ḍabābu kaṭeef | the fog is thick |
| الحرارة ثلاثين درجة | al-ḥarāra thalāthīn daraja | the temperature is thirty degrees |
| الحرارة تحت الصفر | al-ḥarāra taḥta ṣ-ṣifr | the temperature is below zero |
Weather Questions
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| كيف الطقس؟ | kayfa aṭ-ṭaqs? | how is the weather? |
| ما الحرارة؟ | mā al-ḥarāra? | what is the temperature? |
| هل ستمطر اليوم؟ | hal sa-tamṭir al-yawm? | will it rain today? |
| هل ستمطر غداً؟ | hal sa-tamṭir ghadan? | will it rain tomorrow? |
| كيف الجو؟ | kayfa al-jaww? | how is the atmosphere/weather? |
| هل الطقس جيد؟ | hal aṭ-ṭaqsu jayyid? | is the weather good? |
| هل سأحتاج إلى مظلّة؟ | hal sa-aḥtāj ilā muzillā? | will I need an umbrella? |
| هل الشمس ساطعة؟ | hal ash-shamsu sāṭi3a? | is the sun shining? |
| ما نوع الطقس المتوقع؟ | mā naw3 aṭ-ṭaqsu al-matawaqqa3? | what type of weather is expected? |
Weather Forecast Dialogue
Checking the weather
- Akayfa aṭ-ṭaqsu al-yawm?How is the weather today?
- Baṭ-ṭaqsu mushmis wa jamīlThe weather is sunny and beautiful
- Amā al-ḥarāra?What's the temperature?
- Bthalāthīn darajat mā'iyyaThirty degrees Celsius
- Ahal sa-tamṭir ghadan?Will it rain tomorrow?
- Bna3am, mutawaqqa3 amṭār khafīfa ṣabāḥanYes, light rain expected in the morning
- Ashukran 3ala l-ma3lūmātThank you for the information
Talking About Plans Based on Weather
Planning a picnic
- Amā khatṭat al-yawm?What's the plan for today?
- Bnurīdu n-nuzha fī al-ḥadīqaWe want to go to the park
- Ahal aṭ-ṭaqsu munāsib?Is the weather suitable?
- Bna3am, as-samā' ṣāfiya wa r-riyāḥu khafīfaYes, the sky is clear and the wind is light
- Amumtāz, yalla nruḥExcellent, let's go
Weather in Different Arab Regions
| Region | Common Weather | Arabic Term |
|---|---|---|
| Gulf (Saudi, UAE, Qatar) | Hot, humid summers | حار ورطب |
| North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia) | Mild winters, hot summers | معتدل شتاءً, حار صيفاً |
| Levant (Lebanon, Jordan) | Rainy winters, dry summers | ممطر شتاءً, جاف صيفاً |
| Egypt | Hot, dry most of the year | حار وجاف |
| Yemen | Moderate, rainy seasons | معتدل, موسم الأمطار |
Cultural Notes
- Weather is the most common small talk topic in Arabic culture
- الحمد لله is the standard response to “how are you?” regardless of weather
- In desert regions, extreme heat is normal — don’t complain about it
- Rain is often seen as a blessing in Arab culture
- Weather forecasts are widely followed, especially during extreme conditions
- Many Arabic names are weather-related: شمس (Shams, sun), قمر (Qamar, moon), نجمة (Najma, star)
Practice
How do you ask 'how is the weather?' in Arabic?
hint: Use 'كيف' for 'how'
What is 'صيف' in English?
hint: It's one of the four seasons
How do you say 'the sky is clear' in Arabic?
hint: Use 'صافية' for 'clear'
What does 'الحمد لله' mean in response to 'how are you?'
hint: It's the standard humble response
Match each pair — start with Arabic (left)
0 / 8Arabic
English
← Select an Arabic word, then tap its meaning →
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