Meaning
Describing the weather condition of snow.
Cultural Background
Children are often told that 'Frau Holle' (a fairy tale character) is shaking out her feather beds when it snows. In Austria and Switzerland, 'Es schneit' can be a cause for celebration (tourism) or extreme caution (avalanches). In cities like Berlin or Hamburg, 'Es schneit' often triggers immediate complaints about the 'S-Bahn' (train) delays.
The 'Es' is Key
Never forget the 'Es'. German sentences need a subject, even if it's just a placeholder for the weather.
No 'is' needed
Avoid saying 'Es ist schneien'. The verb 'schneit' already includes the 'is' part of the action.
Meaning
Describing the weather condition of snow.
The 'Es' is Key
Never forget the 'Es'. German sentences need a subject, even if it's just a placeholder for the weather.
No 'is' needed
Avoid saying 'Es ist schneien'. The verb 'schneit' already includes the 'is' part of the action.
Small Talk Gold
Commenting on the snow is the safest and most common way to start a conversation with a stranger in winter.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word.
Heute ist es kalt und ___ schneit.
Weather verbs in German always take the impersonal subject 'es'.
Which sentence is correct for 'It is snowing'?
Select the natural German sentence:
'Es schneit' is the standard present tense form.
Match the tense to the sentence.
Tense Matching
Matching the correct temporal forms of the verb schneien.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Warum nimmst du den Bus? B: Weil es gerade ___.
The present tense is needed for an action happening 'gerade' (right now).
Match the intensity.
Which one means 'It's snowing heavily'?
'Stark' is the common adverb for heavy weather conditions.
🎉 Score: /5
Visual Learning Aids
Precipitation Types
Practice Bank
5 exercisesHeute ist es kalt und ___ schneit.
Weather verbs in German always take the impersonal subject 'es'.
Select the natural German sentence:
'Es schneit' is the standard present tense form.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Matching the correct temporal forms of the verb schneien.
A: Warum nimmst du den Bus? B: Weil es gerade ___.
The present tense is needed for an action happening 'gerade' (right now).
Which one means 'It's snowing heavily'?
'Stark' is the common adverb for heavy weather conditions.
🎉 Score: /5
Frequently Asked Questions
7 questionsNo, that is grammatically incorrect. Use 'Es schneit' for the present tense.
You can say 'Es hat geschneit' (most common) or 'Es schneite' (in stories).
Yes, you can say 'Es rieselt' or 'Es schneit leicht'.
Snow is a mass noun in German ({der|m} Schnee) and has no plural form.
Yes, figuratively for things falling in large quantities, like 'Konfetti schneit auf die Menge'.
It's an impersonal subject used for natural phenomena where there is no logical 'doer' of the action.
It is neutral and can be used in any situation, from a scientific report to a chat with a friend.
Related Phrases
Der {Schnee|m}
similarThe snow (noun)
Es regnet.
contrastIt is raining.
Verschneit sein
builds onTo be covered in snow
