Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'nieva' to describe the weather when white flakes are falling from the sky in Spanish-speaking regions.
- Means: It is snowing (impersonal verb form).
- Used in: Weather reports, casual winter conversations, and holiday descriptions.
- Don't confuse: Never use a subject like 'yo' or 'él' with this verb.
あなたのレベルに合った解説：
意味
Indicates that snow is falling.
文化的背景
In Spain, the 'Sierra Nevada' (Snowy Range) in Granada is the southernmost ski resort in Europe. People often say 'nieva' with surprise because much of Spain is quite dry. Snow is rare in most of Mexico, except for high volcanoes like Popocatépetl. When it 'nieva' in cities like Monterrey, it's a major news event. In Bariloche, 'nieva' is the most awaited word for the tourism industry. The 'Fiesta Nacional de la Nieve' celebrates the first snowfalls. In countries like Ecuador or Colombia, 'nieva' only happens in the 'páramos' or on 'nevados' (glaciers). Most citizens have never seen it snow in person.
The 'It' Trap
Never translate the 'It' in 'It snows'. Just say 'Nieva'. Adding 'él' or 'eso' will make you sound like a robot.
Stem Change
Don't forget the 'i'! It's not 'neva', it's 'nieva'. This only happens in the present tense when stressed.
The 'It' Trap
Never translate the 'It' in 'It snows'. Just say 'Nieva'. Adding 'él' or 'eso' will make you sound like a robot.
Stem Change
Don't forget the 'i'! It's not 'neva', it's 'nieva'. This only happens in the present tense when stressed.
Use with 'Estar'
If you want to sound more natural when looking out a window, use 'Está nevando' instead of just 'Nieva'.
Snow vs. Slush
Spanish doesn't have as many words for snow as English or Icelandic. 'Nieve' covers almost everything until it becomes 'hielo' (ice) or 'barro' (mud).
自分をテスト
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'nevar' in the present tense.
En las montañas de los Andes, ________ mucho en invierno.
The verb 'nevar' has a stem change (e -> ie) and is impersonal (3rd person singular).
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the correct way to say 'It is snowing'.
Weather verbs in Spanish are impersonal and don't take a subject.
Match the Spanish weather phrase with its English translation.
Weather Matching
Basic weather vocabulary comparison.
Fill in the missing word in this conversation.
A: ¿Por qué no quieres salir? B: Porque ________ y no tengo abrigo.
The present tense 'nieva' explains the current reason for not going out.
🎉 スコア： /4
ビジュアル学習ツール
Nieva vs. Llueve
Weather Verbs
Snow
- • Nieva
- • Nevó
- • Nevará
Rain
- • Llueve
- • Llovió
- • Lloverá
練習問題バンク
5 問題En las montañas de los Andes, ________ mucho en invierno.
The verb 'nevar' has a stem change (e -> ie) and is impersonal (3rd person singular).
Select the correct way to say 'It is snowing'.
Weather verbs in Spanish are impersonal and don't take a subject.
左の各項目を右のペアと一致させてください:
Basic weather vocabulary comparison.
A: ¿Por qué no quieres salir? B: Porque ________ y no tengo abrigo.
The present tense 'nieva' explains the current reason for not going out.
🎉 スコア： /5
よくある質問
10 問Technically, in a poetic or fictional context, you could, but in 99.9% of real life, it is strictly impersonal.
'Nieva' is general or habitual, while 'está nevando' emphasizes that it is happening right this second.
You use the past tense: 'nevó'. Note that the stem change 'ie' disappears in the past.
The word is understood everywhere, but in countries like Panama or Puerto Rico, it's almost never used in daily life.
The verb itself usually doesn't, but the noun 'nieve' is common slang for cocaine.
You say 'empieza a nevar'.
In Spanish, it is 'nieva'. 'Neva' is the form used in Portuguese.
No, for hail you must use 'graniza' (from 'granizar').
There isn't a direct opposite verb, but 'hace sol' (it's sunny) is the most common contrast.
It is neutral. It's fine for both a weather report and a chat with a friend.
関連フレーズ
está nevando
similarit is snowing (right now)
cae nieve
synonymsnow is falling
hace un frío que pela
builds onit's freezing cold
copo de nieve
specialized formsnowflake
nevada
specialized formsnowfall/snowstorm
どこで使う？
Looking out the window
Ana: ¡Mira por la ventana!
Luis: ¡Oh, qué bien! Nieva.
Planning a trip
Guía: En esta zona nieva mucho en enero.
Turista: Perfecto, queremos esquiar.
On a phone call
Mamá: ¿Cómo está el tiempo en Madrid?
Hijo: Hace mucho frío y nieva un poco.
Weather Forecast
Presentador: Mañana nieva en el norte del país.
Espectador: Tengo que comprar cadenas para el coche.
At a ski resort
Amigo 1: ¡Por fin nieva!
Amigo 2: Sí, la nieve es perfecta hoy.
Complaining about the cold
Vecino: Odio cuando nieva.
Tú: Yo también, es muy difícil caminar.
暗記しよう
記憶術
Think of 'Nieva' as 'New-Eva' (New Eve). On New Year's Eve, it often snows!
視覚的連想
Imagine a giant letter 'N' made of ice, and from its arms, little white 'i' and 'e' flakes are falling down to form the word 'nieva'.
Rhyme
Cuando llega el invierno, nieva en el infierno (a playful, nonsensical rhyme).
Story
Eva went to the mountains. She looked up and saw white flakes. She shouted '¡Nieva!' to her friend. Now, every time Eva sees white, she remembers her name is inside the word 'n-IEVA'.
In Other Languages
In Italian, it's 'nevica', and in Portuguese, it's 'neva'. They all share the same Latin 'niv-' root, making them easy to group together.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Look out your window or at a photo of a snowy scene and say '¡Nieva!' out loud five times with different emotions (excited, sad, surprised).
Review 'nieva' alongside other weather verbs like 'llueve' (it rains) to contrast the stem changes (e->ie vs u->ue).
発音
The 'ni' is a quick glide, followed by a strong 'e'.
The 'v' is soft, almost like a 'b' but without the lips fully touching.
フォーマル度スペクトル
Se registran fuertes nevadas. (Describing intensity)
Nieva mucho. (Describing intensity)
Está cayendo una buena. (Describing intensity)
Está nevando de lo lindo. (Describing intensity)
From the Latin 'nivare', which is derived from 'nix' (snow). It shares the same Indo-European root as 'snow'.
豆知識
The word 'nivea' (as in the cream brand) also comes from the same Latin root 'niveus', meaning 'snow-white'.
文化メモ
In Spain, the 'Sierra Nevada' (Snowy Range) in Granada is the southernmost ski resort in Europe. People often say 'nieva' with surprise because much of Spain is quite dry.
“¡En Granada nieva y puedes ver el mar!”
Snow is rare in most of Mexico, except for high volcanoes like Popocatépetl. When it 'nieva' in cities like Monterrey, it's a major news event.
“Rara vez nieva en la Ciudad de México.”
In Bariloche, 'nieva' is the most awaited word for the tourism industry. The 'Fiesta Nacional de la Nieve' celebrates the first snowfalls.
“En Bariloche siempre nieva en julio.”
In countries like Ecuador or Colombia, 'nieva' only happens in the 'páramos' or on 'nevados' (glaciers). Most citizens have never seen it snow in person.
“Solo nieva en las cumbres más altas.”
会話のきっかけ
¿Nieva mucho en tu ciudad durante el invierno?
¿Qué haces cuando nieva y no puedes salir de casa?
Si mañana nieva, ¿quieres ir a la montaña?
¿Crees que nevará más o menos en el futuro debido al cambio climático?
よくある間違い
Yo nieva.
Nieva.
L1 Interference
El tiempo nieva.
Nieva.
L1 Interference
Está nieva.
Está nevando.
L1 Interference
Neva mucho aquí.
Nieva mucho aquí.
L1 Interference
Hace nieve.
Nieva / Hay nieve.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
It snows
English needs 'it'; Spanish uses the verb alone.
Il neige
French requires the pronoun 'il'.
Es schneit
German requires the pronoun 'es'.
雪が降っています (Yuki ga futte imasu)
Japanese describes it as 'snow falling' rather than a single verb.
تثلج (Tathlij)
Arabic uses a feminine verb form by default for weather.
下雪 (Xià xuě)
It is a verb-noun combo, not a single conjugated verb.
눈이 와요 (Nuni wayo)
Uses the verb 'to come' instead of 'to snow'.
Neva
Portuguese is 'neva' (no 'i'), while Spanish is 'nieva'.
Spotted in the Real World
“Oh, blanca Navidad, nieve...”
The classic Christmas carol translated into Spanish.
“Aquí nieva sin descanso.”
Describing the harsh conditions in the Andes after the plane crash.
“Mañana nieva en cotas bajas.”
A standard weather forecast for Spain.
“...el mundo era tan reciente que muchas cosas carecían de nombre, y para mencionarlas había que señalarlas con el dedo. (Context: The discovery of ice/snow).”
While the word 'nieva' isn't the focus, the description of ice/snow is iconic in Hispanic literature.
“¡Por fin nieva en Madrid! ❄️”
During the 'Filomena' snowstorm in Spain.
間違えやすい
Sounds similar to 'nieva' but means 'fog'.
Remember: Nieva has a 'v' for 'very cold', Niebla has a 'bl' for 'blurry'.
Learners use the noun 'nieve' when they need the verb 'nieva'.
'Nieve' is the thing (snow), 'Nieva' is the action (it snows).
よくある質問 (10)
Technically, in a poetic or fictional context, you could, but in 99.9% of real life, it is strictly impersonal.
grammar mechanics'Nieva' is general or habitual, while 'está nevando' emphasizes that it is happening right this second.
usage contextsYou use the past tense: 'nevó'. Note that the stem change 'ie' disappears in the past.
grammar mechanicsThe word is understood everywhere, but in countries like Panama or Puerto Rico, it's almost never used in daily life.
cultural usageThe verb itself usually doesn't, but the noun 'nieve' is common slang for cocaine.
practical tipsYou say 'empieza a nevar'.
usage contextsIn Spanish, it is 'nieva'. 'Neva' is the form used in Portuguese.
comparisonsNo, for hail you must use 'graniza' (from 'granizar').
basic understandingThere isn't a direct opposite verb, but 'hace sol' (it's sunny) is the most common contrast.
basic understandingIt is neutral. It's fine for both a weather report and a chat with a friend.
usage contexts
