In 15 Seconds
- The standard German verb for water falling as rain.
- Always used with the dummy subject 'es' for weather.
- Perfect for small talk and daily weather descriptions.
Meaning
This is the most common way to say water is falling from the sky. It is your go-to word for describing the weather or complaining about a wet day.
Key Examples
3 of 6Looking out the window at home
Schau mal, es regnet schon wieder.
Look, it is raining again.
Texting a friend about plans
Regnet es bei euch auch so stark?
Is it raining that hard at your place too?
Formal weather report on TV
Morgen wird es im Norden den ganzen Tag regnen.
Tomorrow it will rain all day in the north.
Cultural Background
Germans have a pragmatic view of rain. It's rarely a reason to cancel outdoor activities, especially if you have 'Funktionskleidung' (functional clothing). In cities like Hamburg, rain is so common it's often called 'Schietwetter' (shitty weather) in the local dialect, but people are very used to it. There is no 'rainy day' indoor recess in many German schools; kids are expected to wear 'Matschhosen' (mud pants) and play outside regardless. Rain is a frequent motif in German Romanticism, often symbolizing a deep connection between human emotion and the natural world.
The 'Es' is Mandatory
Never forget the 'es'. Unlike Spanish or Italian, German always needs a subject, even for weather.
Don't say 'Ich bin regnend'
German doesn't use the present continuous. 'Es regnet' covers both 'It rains' and 'It is raining'.
In 15 Seconds
- The standard German verb for water falling as rain.
- Always used with the dummy subject 'es' for weather.
- Perfect for small talk and daily weather descriptions.
What It Means
Regnen is the fundamental German verb for raining. It is a simple, essential word for daily life. You will hear it in every weather report. You will use it to cancel picnic plans. It describes the physical act of precipitation. It is neutral and works in every social setting. Whether it is a light drizzle or a downpour, this verb is the base.
How To Use It
In German, weather verbs almost always use the pronoun es. You say Es regnet to mean 'It is raining.' If you want to talk about the past, say Es hat geregnet. To describe a future rain, use Es wird regnen. It is a weak verb, so it follows regular conjugation rules. Just remember that the subject is almost always 'it'. You rarely say 'I rain' unless you are being very poetic!
When To Use It
Use it for small talk with your neighbors. It is the perfect way to fill an awkward silence. Use it when texting a friend to coordinate meeting up. Mention it at work if you arrive late and soaked. It is useful at a restaurant when choosing a table. If the clouds look dark, tell your partner Es wird gleich regnen. It is practical, direct, and universally understood.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use regnen if it is snowing or hailing. German has specific verbs like schneien or hageln for those. Avoid using it for metaphors about crying in professional settings. While 'crying a river' exists in English, regnen is mostly for weather. Do not forget the t at the end in the present tense. Saying es regne sounds like you are writing a 19th-century poem.
Cultural Background
Germans have a complex relationship with the rain. There is a famous saying: 'Es gibt kein schlechtes Wetter, nur falsche Kleidung.' This means there is no bad weather, only wrong clothes. Because it rains often in Germany, people just keep going. You will see people biking to work in full rain gear. Rain is not an excuse to stay home. It is just a part of the daily rhythm.
Common Variations
You can add adverbs to change the intensity. Es regnet in Strömen means it is pouring. Es regnet Bindfäden is a funny way to say it is raining strings. If it is just a tiny bit, use nieseln for drizzling. For a sudden, short rain, use the noun Schauer. You can also use regnerisch as an adjective to describe a 'rainy' day.
Usage Notes
The verb is very stable across all registers. The only thing to watch for is the contraction `Regnet's` (Regnet es), which is very common in spoken, informal German but should be avoided in formal writing.
The 'Es' is Mandatory
Never forget the 'es'. Unlike Spanish or Italian, German always needs a subject, even for weather.
Don't say 'Ich bin regnend'
German doesn't use the present continuous. 'Es regnet' covers both 'It rains' and 'It is raining'.
Use 'stark' for 'hard'
To say it's raining hard, use 'stark' (strong) rather than 'hart' (hard).
Small Talk Gold
If you don't know what to say, complain about the rain. It's the most socially acceptable complaint in Germany.
Examples
6Schau mal, es regnet schon wieder.
Look, it is raining again.
A very common observation in daily German life.
Regnet es bei euch auch so stark?
Is it raining that hard at your place too?
Using 'es' in a question format by swapping positions.
Morgen wird es im Norden den ganzen Tag regnen.
Tomorrow it will rain all day in the north.
Standard future tense construction for weather forecasts.
Es regnet Bindfäden, ich bleibe lieber auf dem Sofa.
It's raining cats and dogs, I'd rather stay on the sofa.
Uses the idiom 'Bindfäden' for a humorous touch.
Entschuldigung, es hat draußen plötzlich angefangen zu regnen.
Sorry, it suddenly started to rain outside.
A polite way to explain why you look a bit messy.
Ich mag es, wenn es leise gegen das Fenster regnet.
I like it when it rains quietly against the window.
Shows the verb used in a more atmospheric, emotional way.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of 'regnen' in the present tense.
Heute ___ es den ganzen Tag.
The subject is 'es', so the verb must end in '-t'.
Which sentence is correct for 'It rained yesterday'?
Choose the correct past tense sentence.
'Regnen' uses 'haben' as an auxiliary verb in the Perfekt tense.
Match the German phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are common variations of the phrase.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Gehen wir in den Park? B: Nein, schau mal aus dem Fenster! Es ___.
The context of looking out the window and saying 'no' to the park suggests rain.
Match the intensity to the verb.
Which verb fits a very heavy rain?
'Schütten' implies a very heavy downpour, much stronger than 'regnen'.
🎉 Score: /5
Visual Learning Aids
Rain Intensity
Practice Bank
5 exercisesHeute ___ es den ganzen Tag.
The subject is 'es', so the verb must end in '-t'.
Choose the correct past tense sentence.
'Regnen' uses 'haben' as an auxiliary verb in the Perfekt tense.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are common variations of the phrase.
A: Gehen wir in den Park? B: Nein, schau mal aus dem Fenster! Es ___.
The context of looking out the window and saying 'no' to the park suggests rain.
Which verb fits a very heavy rain?
'Schütten' implies a very heavy downpour, much stronger than 'regnen'.
🎉 Score: /5
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsAlways 'Es regnet'. German does not use the 'to be + -ing' form for weather.
Use 'haben'. Example: 'Es hat geregnet'.
It's grammatically possible but sounds very poetic or old-fashioned. Stick to 'Es regnet'.
'Regnen' is general; 'gießen' means it's pouring very heavily.
Use 'Es fängt an zu regnen'.
It is a weak verb (regnen - regnete - geregnet).
No, for snow use 'schneien'.
It's an adjective meaning 'spoiled by rain', like 'ein verregneter Urlaub'.
It's slang. Fine with friends, but avoid it with your boss or teachers.
Say 'Es hat aufgehört zu regnen'.
Yes, unless you are using it metaphorically with a plural noun (e.g., 'Blumen regnen').
It's a noun for 'drizzle' or 'misty rain'.
Related Phrases
nieseln
similarto drizzle
schütten
similarto pour
gießen
similarto pour (like a watering can)
aufhören
contrastto stop
nass werden
builds onto get wet
beregnen
specialized formto irrigate
