piove
it is raining
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Piove is the essential Italian way to say 'it is raining' or 'it rains' without needing a subject.
- Means: It is currently raining or it rains generally.
- Used in: Daily weather updates, small talk, and travel planning.
- Don't confuse: Never use 'lui' or 'esso' before it; Italian weather verbs are subjectless.
Explanation at your level:
Bedeutung
Describing current weather.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase 'Piove, governo ladro!' is a humorous way Italians express frustration with the state. It suggests that even the weather is the government's fault. Rain is traditionally seen as a blessing for the 'vendemmia' (grape harvest), provided it doesn't come as a 'grandinata' (hailstorm). Rain is often used in Italian neo-realist films to emphasize the 'malinconia' (melancholy) of the characters or the harsh reality of post-war life. There is a saying 'Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata' (Wet bride, lucky bride), meaning if it rains on your wedding day, you will be lucky.
Keep it simple
Don't try to translate 'It is raining' word-for-word. Just say 'Piove'.
No 'Fare'
Never say 'Fa piove'. 'Fare' is for temperature, not for rain.
Bedeutung
Describing current weather.
Keep it simple
Don't try to translate 'It is raining' word-for-word. Just say 'Piove'.
No 'Fare'
Never say 'Fa piove'. 'Fare' is for temperature, not for rain.
The 'Sta' trick
Use 'Sta piovendo' if you want to sound more like a native speaker describing the immediate moment.
Small Talk
Complaining about the rain is the safest way to start a conversation with any Italian stranger.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct way to say 'It is raining' in Italian.
Come si dice 'It is raining'?
In Italian, weather verbs are impersonal and do not take a subject pronoun.
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb.
Oggi non andiamo al mare perché ________.
The verb 'piovere' is used in the 3rd person singular to describe the weather.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Prendi l'ombrello? B: Sì, ________.
'Guarda, piove' is a natural way to observe the weather.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Piove sul bagnato.
This idiom means that misfortunes often happen to those who are already in a bad situation.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Rain Intensity
Light
- • pioviggina
Normal
- • piove
Heavy
- • diluvia
- • piove a dirotto
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, it's grammatically incorrect. Just say 'Piove'.
'Piove' can mean it rains generally or right now. 'Sta piovendo' specifically means it is raining at this exact moment.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
You can say 'Ha piovuto' or 'È piovuto'. Both are correct.
It's a joke blaming the government for the bad weather.
No, for snow you use 'nevica'.
Yes, 'pioviggina'.
Yes, to describe things falling in abundance, like 'piovevano critiche'.
Because the verb ending '-e' already tells us it's the third person, and weather verbs don't have a logical subject.
There isn't a single verb, but you can say 'c'è il sole' (it's sunny).
Verwandte Redewendungen
pioviggina
similarit's drizzling
diluvia
similarit's pouring
piove a dirotto
specialized formraining cats and dogs
piove sul bagnato
idiommisfortunes come in pairs
ombrello
associatedumbrella
Wo du es verwendest
Looking out the window
A: Prendi l'ombrello?
B: Sì, guarda, piove.
Planning a picnic
Marco: Andiamo al parco?
Sofia: No, piove troppo forte.
At the bus stop
Stranger: Accidenti, piove ancora.
You: Sì, non smette più.
On the phone
Mamma: Com'è il tempo a Roma?
Figlio: Oggi piove, fa freddo.
Entering a shop
Commessa: Buongiorno! Fuori piove?
Cliente: Sì, piove a dirotto!
Complaining about politics
Gianni: Il bus è in ritardo di nuovo.
Paolo: E piove pure! Governo ladro!
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of the 'P' in 'Piove' as a person holding an umbrella (☂️).
Visual Association
Imagine a giant 'P' standing in a puddle in the middle of a Roman piazza, with water droplets falling from the top curve of the letter.
Rhyme
Quando piove e tira vento, resta in casa e sii contento.
Story
Once, a Roman traveler forgot his umbrella. He looked at the sky and shouted 'Piove!' so loudly that the clouds got scared and stopped. Now, every time you say 'Piove', you are checking if the clouds are still listening.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Next time it rains, look out the window and say 'Piove' out loud three times, then check the time and say 'Piove alle [current time]'.
In Other Languages
Llueve
The spelling and pronunciation of the initial consonant cluster.
Il pleut
The mandatory use of the pronoun 'il'.
Es regnet
Requires a subject and uses a different linguistic root.
雨が降っています (Ame ga futte imasu)
Uses a noun-verb combination instead of a single impersonal verb.
إنها تمطر (Innaha tamtur)
Sentence structure often includes emphasis particles.
下雨 (Xià yǔ)
The concept of 'rain' is the object of the verb 'to fall'.
비가 와요 (Bi-ga wa-yo)
Rain is treated as an entity that 'comes'.
Chove
Pronunciation of the 'ch' vs the Italian 'pi'.
Easily Confused
Learners use the noun when they should use the verb.
Use 'piove' for the action (It is raining) and 'la pioggia' for the thing (The rain is cold).
Sounds slightly similar to some learners.
Piangere is for eyes/tears; Piovere is for clouds/water.
FAQ (10)
No, it's grammatically incorrect. Just say 'Piove'.
'Piove' can mean it rains generally or right now. 'Sta piovendo' specifically means it is raining at this exact moment.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
You can say 'Ha piovuto' or 'È piovuto'. Both are correct.
It's a joke blaming the government for the bad weather.
No, for snow you use 'nevica'.
Yes, 'pioviggina'.
Yes, to describe things falling in abundance, like 'piovevano critiche'.
Because the verb ending '-e' already tells us it's the third person, and weather verbs don't have a logical subject.
There isn't a single verb, but you can say 'c'è il sole' (it's sunny).
