Significado
Describes unpleasant weather.
Contexto cultural
The French often use weather complaints as a 'safe' way to initiate conversation with strangers. It is considered polite and neutral. In Brittany, where rain is frequent, 'il fait mauvais' is often met with the joke: 'En Bretagne, il ne pleut que sur les cons' (In Brittany, it only rains on fools). Parisian 'mauvais temps' is famously grey ('la grisaille'). It has inspired countless poets and filmmakers to depict the city in a melancholic light. In Quebec, 'il fait mauvais' is used, but you might also hear 'il fait pas beau' or more specific terms for snow and extreme cold. In the South, 'il fait mauvais' is often used to describe the 'Mistral' wind, even if the sun is shining, because the wind makes it unpleasant to be outside.
The 'Small Talk' Key
If you don't know what to say to a French person, just look at the sky and say 'Il fait mauvais'. It works every time.
Avoid 'Il est'
Never use 'Il est' for weather. It's the most common mistake for English speakers. Stick to 'Il fait'.
Significado
Describes unpleasant weather.
The 'Small Talk' Key
If you don't know what to say to a French person, just look at the sky and say 'Il fait mauvais'. It works every time.
Avoid 'Il est'
Never use 'Il est' for weather. It's the most common mistake for English speakers. Stick to 'Il fait'.
Add 'un peu'
To sound more native, add 'un peu' (a bit). 'Il fait un peu mauvais' sounds less dramatic and more conversational.
The Shrug
When saying 'Il fait mauvais', accompany it with a small shoulder shrug (the 'Gallic Shrug') for maximum authenticity.
Ponte a prueba
Choose the correct way to say 'The weather is bad' in French.
Comment dit-on 'The weather is bad' ?
Weather expressions in French always use 'Il fait' followed by an adjective.
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'faire'.
Hier, il _______ mauvais toute la journée.
Since the sentence starts with 'Hier' (Yesterday), we use the passé composé 'a fait' for a completed event.
What would a French person most likely say in this situation?
A: On va faire un pique-nique ? B: Regarde le ciel, il est tout gris. _________.
Grey skies indicate 'mauvais' weather, making a picnic a bad idea.
Match the phrase to the correct register.
Match 'Il fait moche' to its register.
'Moche' is a casual/informal word for 'ugly' or 'bad'.
Match the French weather phrase to its English equivalent.
Pairs: 1. Il fait mauvais, 2. Il fait beau, 3. Il fait froid, 4. Il fait gris
These are the four basic weather states every A1-A2 learner must know.
🎉 Puntuación: /5
Ayudas visuales
Faire vs Être
Banco de ejercicios
5 ejerciciosComment dit-on 'The weather is bad' ?
Weather expressions in French always use 'Il fait' followed by an adjective.
Hier, il _______ mauvais toute la journée.
Since the sentence starts with 'Hier' (Yesterday), we use the passé composé 'a fait' for a completed event.
A: On va faire un pique-nique ? B: Regarde le ciel, il est tout gris. _________.
Grey skies indicate 'mauvais' weather, making a picnic a bad idea.
Match 'Il fait moche' to its register.
'Moche' is a casual/informal word for 'ugly' or 'bad'.
Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:
These are the four basic weather states every A1-A2 learner must know.
🎉 Puntuación: /5
Preguntas frecuentes
12 preguntasYes, it is grammatically correct, but it sounds a bit more formal or literary. In daily conversation, 'Il fait mauvais' is much more natural.
No, in the impersonal 'Il fait' construction, the adjective remains masculine singular. 'Il a fait mauvais pendant dix jours.'
'Mauvais' is neutral and standard. 'Moche' is informal and literally means 'ugly'. Use 'moche' with friends.
Usually, 'mauvais' implies rain or grey skies. For snow, people usually just say 'Il neige', unless the snow makes travel dangerous, then you could say 'Il fait mauvais'.
It is always 'Il fait mauvais'. No article is needed between the verb and the adjective.
You can say 'Le temps se gâte' (idiomatic) or 'Il commence à faire mauvais'.
Not at all! It's a very standard, polite way to comment on the weather.
Not really. If it's sunny but cold, say 'Il fait froid'. 'Mauvais' requires some level of 'gloom' or rain.
The direct opposite is 'Il fait beau' (The weather is beautiful/good).
Yes, but not with 'Il fait'. 'Il est mauvais' means 'He is bad/evil' or 'He is bad at something'.
Yes, it is universally understood and used across the Francophonie, from France to Canada to Africa.
You can say 'Il fait très mauvais' or use the idiom 'Il fait un temps de chien'.
Frases relacionadas
Il fait beau
contrastThe weather is good.
Il pleut
specialized formIt is raining.
Il fait moche
synonymThe weather is ugly.
Un temps de chien
specialized formTerrible weather.
Il fait gris
similarIt is grey/overcast.
