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das Wetter

A2 noun 8 min read

das Wetter

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips das Wetter in 30 Seconds

Explanation das Wetter in your Level:

At the A1 level, learners focus on the most basic aspects of 'das Wetter'. You will learn to state how the weather is today using simple adjectives. Key phrases include 'Das Wetter ist gut' (The weather is good), 'Das Wetter ist schlecht' (The weather is bad), 'Es ist warm' (It is warm), and 'Es ist kalt' (It is cold). You also learn the names of basic phenomena like 'die Sonne' (the sun), 'der Regen' (the rain), and 'der Schnee' (the snow). The goal is to be able to participate in very simple small talk and understand basic weather icons on a phone app. You will learn that 'Wetter' is a neuter noun, so you say 'das Wetter'. You might also learn to ask a simple question like 'Wie ist das Wetter?' to a friend. Vocabulary at this stage is very concrete and directly related to immediate sensory experience.

At the A2 level, your ability to discuss 'das Wetter' expands to include future plans and more specific descriptions. You will learn to use the future tense or the verb 'werden' to talk about forecasts, such as 'Das Wetter wird morgen schön.' You begin to use more nuanced adjectives like 'bewölkt' (cloudy), 'windig' (windy), and 'neblig' (foggy). You also start to use prepositions, specifically 'bei', to explain your actions: 'Bei schönem Wetter gehen wir im Park spazieren.' You will be able to understand a basic weather report on the radio, including temperatures in Celsius and general trends for the day. You also learn to express preferences, such as 'Ich mag dieses Wetter nicht.' The focus is on practical communication for daily life and travel.

At the B1 level, you move beyond simple descriptions and start to discuss the impact of 'das Wetter' on your life and feelings. You can describe weather events in the past using the Präteritum or Perfekt, like 'Gestern war das Wetter herrlich.' You learn more complex meteorological terms like 'das Gewitter' (thunderstorm), 'die Hitze' (heat), and 'der Hagel' (hail). You can also handle hypothetical situations using the Konjunktiv II: 'Wenn das Wetter besser wäre, könnten wir grillen.' You start to understand and use common idioms like 'jemanden im Regen stehen lassen' (to leave someone in the lurch). Your vocabulary includes words for probabilities, such as 'Regenwahrscheinlichkeit' (probability of rain). You can follow more detailed weather forecasts and understand the reasons for travel delays related to weather.

At the B2 level, you can discuss 'das Wetter' in a more abstract and professional manner. You understand the difference between 'Wetter' and 'Klima' and can participate in discussions about climate change (der Klimawandel). You can use more sophisticated adjectives like 'unbeständig' (unstable), 'drückend' (stifling), or 'mild' (mild). You are comfortable with compound nouns and can describe complex weather systems. You also master many more idiomatic expressions and can understand their figurative meanings in context. For example, you might use 'das Wetter' metaphorically to describe a political situation or a social atmosphere. You can read newspaper articles about extreme weather events and summarize the main points, including the causes and consequences described by experts. Your grammar is more precise, especially regarding adjective endings in complex noun phrases.

At the C1 level, you have a near-native command of 'das Wetter' and its related vocabulary. You can follow academic or scientific discussions about meteorology and environmental science. You understand subtle nuances in regional dialects regarding weather terms. You can express yourself with great precision, using words like 'Niederschlag' instead of just 'Regen' or 'Luftfeuchtigkeit' (humidity) to describe conditions. You are familiar with literary uses of weather as a motif and can analyze how authors use 'das Wetter' to create mood or foreshadow events. You can argue for or against environmental policies with detailed vocabulary. Your ability to use the genitive case and complex sentence structures allows you to write formal reports or essays where weather plays a role, such as in economic reports about agriculture or energy consumption.

At the C2 level, you master the full spectrum of 'das Wetter', including archaic, poetic, and highly specialized terms. You can appreciate and use words like 'Wetterleuchten' or 'Meeresbrise' with perfect stylistic accuracy. You can understand and participate in high-level scientific debates about atmospheric physics or historical climatology. You are sensitive to the cultural and historical weight of certain weather-related concepts in German culture, such as the 'Sturm und Drang' literary movement. You can switch effortlessly between colloquial slang (like 'Sauwetter') and highly formal academic registers. Your understanding is so deep that you can catch puns and wordplay involving 'Wetter' in comedy or sophisticated journalism. You can read and interpret complex meteorological charts and data as a native speaker would.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

das Wetter in 30 Seconds

Das Wetter is a neuter German noun meaning 'the weather'.
It is the most common topic for small talk in German culture.
It is usually used with impersonal 'es' constructions like 'Es regnet'.
Distinguish it from 'Klima' (long-term) and 'Witterung' (medium-term).

The German noun das Wetter is a fundamental concept in daily communication, encompassing the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place. Unlike English, where 'weather' can sometimes be used as a verb, in German, it remains strictly a noun, though it forms the root of many verbs like wittern or verwittern. Historically, the word traces back to the Proto-Germanic root *wedrą, which originally signified 'wind' or 'breeze.' This etymological connection highlights how ancient Germanic tribes viewed the weather primarily through the lens of air movement. In modern German, das Wetter is the ultimate 'ice-breaker' in social situations. Whether you are standing at a bus stop in Hamburg or sitting in a café in Munich, commenting on the weather is a socially acceptable way to initiate contact without being intrusive.

Grammatical Gender: The word is neuter (das), which is important for adjective endings, such as 'schönes Wetter' (beautiful weather).

Wie ist das Wetter heute in Berlin?

In Germany, the weather is not just a topic of conversation; it is a matter of preparation. Germans are famous for the saying, 'Es gibt kein schlechtes Wetter, nur falsche Kleidung' (There is no bad weather, only wrong clothing). This reflects a cultural pragmatism where people engage with nature regardless of the conditions. The word also appears in technical contexts as Witterung, which refers to the weather conditions over a specific period, often used in construction or agriculture. Furthermore, the term Unwetter is used to describe severe or extreme weather events like storms or hurricanes. Understanding das Wetter requires recognizing its role in both the physical world and the social fabric of German-speaking countries.

Regional Nuance: In Southern Germany and Austria, the 'Föhn' is a specific warm wind that drastically changes the weather and is often blamed for headaches.

Bei diesem herrlichen Wetter müssen wir einfach rausgehen.

Scientific Usage: Meteorologists distinguish between 'Wetter' (current state), 'Witterung' (days to weeks), and 'Klima' (30+ years).

Das Wetter beeinflusst unsere tägliche Stimmung erheblich.

Morgen soll das Wetter umschlagen und es wird kälter.

Using das Wetter in sentences involves mastering impersonal constructions and specific prepositional phrases. In German, the most common way to describe the weather is using the 'es' (it) construction, such as 'Es regnet' or 'Es ist sonnig.' However, when you want to speak specifically about the weather as a noun, you use it as the subject or object of the sentence. For example, 'Das Wetter ist heute unbeständig' (The weather is unstable today). One of the most critical grammatical points for learners is the use of the preposition 'bei' to mean 'in' or 'during' certain weather. You say 'bei gutem Wetter' (in good weather) or 'bei Regen' (in rain).

Adjective Agreement: Because 'Wetter' is neuter, the adjective in 'das [adjective] Wetter' takes an '-e' in the nominative, but 'gutes Wetter' (without an article) takes an '-es'.

Wir haben heute wirklich Glück mit dem Wetter.

Another common structure involves the verb 'werden' to describe changes: 'Das Wetter wird schlechter' (The weather is getting worse). In more formal or literary German, you might encounter the word in compound nouns like Wetterumschwung (sudden change in weather) or Wetterleuchten (heat lightning). When asking about the weather, the standard phrase is 'Wie ist das Wetter?' but you can also ask 'Was sagt der Wetterbericht?' (What does the weather report say?).

Common Verbs: The weather can 'umschlagen' (change suddenly), 'anhalten' (persist), or 'sich bessern' (improve).

Trotz des schlechten Wetters sind wir wandern gegangen.

Genitive Case: The genitive 'des Wetters' is often used in formal writing, especially after prepositions like 'wegen' or 'trotz'.

Das Wetter scheint sich endlich zu beruhigen.

Werden wir morgen schönes Wetter haben?

You will hear das Wetter in almost every facet of German life. On television, the 'Wetterbericht' follows the evening news (Tagesschau) and is one of the most-watched segments. Radio stations provide 'Wettermeldungen' every half hour, often focusing on driving conditions like 'Glatteis' (black ice) or 'Nebel' (fog). In the workplace, the weather is the go-to topic for 'Flurgespräche' (hallway talk). If a meeting starts late, someone will inevitably mention the rain or the heat. In rural areas, 'Bauernregeln' (farmers' rules) are still cited, which are traditional rhymes that predict the weather based on saints' days or animal behavior.

In the News: News anchors often say, 'Und nun zum Wetter...' (And now for the weather...) to transition to the forecast.

Der Wetterbericht sagt für das Wochenende viel Sonnenschein voraus.

In the tourism industry, the phrase 'Kaiserwetter' is frequently used to describe a perfectly clear, sunny day—literally 'Emperor's weather.' Conversely, in Northern Germany, you might hear the term 'Schietwetter' (a dialect-influenced word for 'shit weather') when it is drizzling and grey. Weather apps like 'WarnWetter' from the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) are ubiquitous on German smartphones. In literature and music, the weather often serves as a metaphor for internal emotional states. Goethe and Schiller frequently used weather descriptions to set the tone of their works. Even in modern German pop music, metaphors involving 'Regen' (rain) or 'Sturm' (storm) are common.

Public Transport: The Deutsche Bahn often blames 'witterungsbedingte Störungen' (weather-related disruptions) for train delays.

Wegen des Wetters hat der Zug leider Verspätung.

Social Media: Hashtags like #Frühlingswetter or #Winterwetter are popular for sharing scenic photos.

Das Wetter lädt heute zu einem Spaziergang ein.

Hoffentlich hält das Wetter bis heute Abend.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make with das Wetter is getting the gender wrong. English speakers often default to 'der Wetter' because 'day' (der Tag) and 'month' (der Monat) are masculine, but 'Wetter' is strictly neuter. Another mistake is literal translation of phrases like 'The weather is good.' While 'Das Wetter ist gut' is correct, many learners try to say 'The weather is having 20 degrees,' which in German must be 'Es sind 20 Grad' or 'Wir haben 20 Grad.'

Confusion with 'Wieder': Beginners sometimes confuse the pronunciation or spelling of 'Wetter' with 'wieder' (again) or 'wider' (against).

Falsch: Der Wetter ist schön. Richtig: Das Wetter ist schön.

Another common pitfall is the misuse of the verb 'machen' (to make). In English, we might say 'The weather makes me happy,' but in German, it's more common to say 'Das Wetter hebt meine Stimmung' or 'Ich freue mich über das Wetter.' Additionally, learners often struggle with the distinction between 'Wetter' and 'Klima.' 'Wetter' is what happens today; 'Klima' is what happens over decades. Using 'Klima' to describe a rainy afternoon is a significant semantic error.

Preposition Errors: Don't say 'in dem Wetter' when you mean 'in this weather'; use 'bei diesem Wetter'.

Falsch: In diesem Wetter gehe ich nicht raus. Richtig: Bei diesem Wetter gehe ich nicht raus.

Adjective Endings: Many learners forget the 'es' ending in 'schönes Wetter' when no article is present.

Wir hatten gestern schönes Wetter während unseres Ausflugs.

Das Wetter war so schlecht, dass wir zu Hause blieben.

While das Wetter is the most common term, there are several related words that offer more precision depending on the context. Die Witterung is a more technical term used to describe weather conditions as they affect materials or specific activities over a short period. Das Klima refers to the long-term statistical average of weather patterns in a region. In creative writing, you might see die Atmosphäre or die Himmelserscheinungen.

Wetter vs. Witterung: 'Wetter' is the current state; 'Witterung' describes the general character of weather over several days.

Die Witterung war für die Ernte in diesem Jahr ideal.

There are also many compound nouns that act as alternatives for specific types of weather. Das Unwetter specifically means bad, stormy weather. Das Kaiserwetter means perfect sunshine. Das Sauwetter or das Hundewetter are colloquial terms for very miserable conditions. In a meteorological context, one might speak of die Großwetterlage, which refers to the large-scale weather situation across a continent.

Wetter vs. Klima: A common saying is: 'Wetter ist, was du kriegst; Klima ist, was du erwartest' (Weather is what you get; climate is what you expect).

Das globale Klima wandelt sich schneller als erwartet.

Metaphorical Use: 'Die Stimmung' (the mood) can sometimes be described using weather-related adjectives, like 'frostig' (frosty).

Nach dem Streit herrschte eine frostige Atmosphäre im Raum.

Das Unwetter verursachte schwere Schäden an den Gebäuden.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word is related to the word 'wind' and 'vent' (Latin), showing that early humans defined weather by the movement of air.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /das ˈvɛtɐ/

US /das ˈvɛtər/

The stress is on the first syllable: WET-ter.

Rhymes With

Götter Retter Blätter Bretter Netter Schmetter Schmettern Klettern

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'W' like an English 'W' (it should be 'V').
Making the first 'e' too long (it is a short vowel).
Confusing it with 'wieder' (again).
Over-emphasizing the final 'r'.
Dropping the final 'r' entirely without vocalizing the 'e'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Very easy to recognize and understand in text.

Writing 2/5

Requires remembering the neuter gender and double 't'.

Speaking 2/5

The 'W' as 'V' and vocalized 'r' need practice.

Listening 1/5

Clear and frequent in media.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

Sonne Regen gut schlecht ist

Learn Next

Wettervorhersage Temperatur bewölkt windig Grad

Advanced

Inversionswetterlage Großwetterlage Atmosphärendruck Meteorologie

Grammar to Know

Impersonal 'es'

Es regnet. / Es ist sonnig.

Adjective Endings (Mixed)

Das schöne Wetter (Nom/Acc).

Adjective Endings (Strong)

Schönes Wetter (Nom/Acc, no article).

Preposition 'bei' + Dative

Bei dem Wetter (Beim Wetter).

Genitive with 'wegen/trotz'

Wegen des schlechten Wetters.

Examples by Level

Das Wetter ist heute sehr schön.

The weather is very beautiful today.

Subject-verb-adjective structure.

Wie ist das Wetter in Berlin?

How is the weather in Berlin?

Interrogative sentence.

Das Wetter ist heute schlecht.

The weather is bad today.

Simple negation of 'gut'.

Ich mag das Wetter.

I like the weather.

Direct object in accusative (das Wetter).

Das Wetter ist warm.

The weather is warm.

Neuter noun with 'sein'.

Ist das Wetter kalt?

Is the weather cold?

Yes/No question format.

Das Wetter ist heute windig.

The weather is windy today.

Adjective usage.

Wir haben heute gutes Wetter.

We have good weather today.

Adjective ending '-es' for neuter accusative without article.

Morgen wird das Wetter besser.

Tomorrow the weather will be better.

Future with 'werden'.

Bei diesem Wetter bleibe ich zu Hause.

In this weather, I am staying at home.

Dative after preposition 'bei'.

Was sagt der Wetterbericht für heute?

What does the weather report say for today?

Compound noun 'Wetterbericht'.

Das Wetter in den Bergen ist oft wechselhaft.

The weather in the mountains is often changeable.

Adjective 'wechselhaft'.

Ich hoffe auf schönes Wetter am Wochenende.

I hope for beautiful weather at the weekend.

Prepositional object 'auf' + accusative.

Wegen des Wetters fällt das Spiel aus.

Because of the weather, the game is cancelled.

Genitive case after 'wegen'.

Das Wetter wird heute Nachmittag bewölkt sein.

The weather will be cloudy this afternoon.

Future tense construction.

Gefällt dir das Wetter hier?

Do you like the weather here?

Verb 'gefallen' with dative 'dir'.

Trotz des schlechten Wetters sind wir spazieren gegangen.

Despite the bad weather, we went for a walk.

Genitive case with 'trotz'.

Das Wetter hat sich im Laufe des Tages verschlechtert.

The weather worsened during the day.

Reflexive verb 'sich verschlechtern'.

Wenn das Wetter morgen schön ist, gehen wir grillen.

If the weather is nice tomorrow, we will go grilling.

Conditional 'wenn' clause.

Das Wetter spielt eine große Rolle für die Landwirtschaft.

The weather plays a big role for agriculture.

Idiomatic 'eine Rolle spielen'.

Ich habe mich an das wechselhafte Wetter gewöhnt.

I have gotten used to the changeable weather.

Reflexive verb 'sich gewöhnen an' + accusative.

Das Wetter lässt heute zu wünschen übrig.

The weather leaves much to be desired today.

Idiomatic expression 'zu wünschen übrig lassen'.

Wir müssen das Wetter abwarten, bevor wir entscheiden.

We have to wait for the weather before we decide.

Verb 'abwarten'.

Das Wetter war herrlich, als wir im Urlaub waren.

The weather was magnificent when we were on vacation.

Past tense 'war' and 'als' clause.

Die Wetteraussichten für die nächste Woche sind eher trüb.

The weather outlook for next week is rather gloomy.

Compound noun 'Wetteraussichten'.

Man sollte bei diesem Wetter extreme körperliche Anstrengung vermeiden.

One should avoid extreme physical exertion in this weather.

Modal verb 'sollte' and 'bei' + dative.

Das Wetter schlägt oft plötzlich um, wenn man in den Alpen ist.

The weather often changes suddenly when one is in the Alps.

Separable verb 'umschlagen'.

Die Veranstaltung wurde aufgrund des extremen Wetters abgesagt.

The event was cancelled due to the extreme weather.

Passive voice with 'aufgrund' + genitive.

Das Wetter beeinflusst die Stimmung vieler Menschen.

The weather influences the mood of many people.

Transitive verb 'beeinflussen'.

Es ist wichtig, das Wetter bei der Planung zu berücksichtigen.

It is important to consider the weather during planning.

Infinitive with 'zu'.

Das Wetter war so drückend, dass man kaum atmen konnte.

The weather was so stifling that one could hardly breathe.

Consecutive clause with 'so... dass'.

Sollte das Wetter umschlagen, müssen wir die Wanderung abbrechen.

Should the weather change, we must cancel the hike.

Conditional clause with 'Sollte...'.

Die meteorologischen Bedingungen bestimmen das Wetter in dieser Region.

Meteorological conditions determine the weather in this region.

Formal vocabulary.

Das Wetter ist ein komplexes System, das schwer vorherzusagen ist.

The weather is a complex system that is hard to predict.

Relative clause.

Inversionswetterlagen können im Winter zu erhöhter Luftverschmutzung führen.

Inversion weather conditions can lead to increased air pollution in winter.

Technical compound noun.

Das Wetter wird zunehmend durch den globalen Klimawandel beeinflusst.

The weather is increasingly being influenced by global climate change.

Adverb 'zunehmend' and passive voice.

Die Beständigkeit des Wetters in dieser Zone ist bemerkenswert.

The stability of the weather in this zone is remarkable.

Noun 'Beständigkeit'.

Das Wetter dient in diesem Roman als Metapher für den inneren Zerfall.

The weather serves in this novel as a metaphor for internal decay.

Abstract usage.

Ungeachtet des Wetters wurde die Forschungsreise fortgesetzt.

Regardless of the weather, the research trip was continued.

Preposition 'ungeachtet' + genitive.

Das Wetterphänomen El Niño hat globale Auswirkungen.

The weather phenomenon El Niño has global effects.

Scientific terminology.

Das Wetter gebärdete sich in jener Nacht wahrhaft apokalyptisch.

The weather behaved truly apocalyptically that night.

Elevated verb 'sich gebärden'.

Die Unberechenbarkeit des Wetters vereitelte jegliche strategische Planung.

The unpredictability of the weather thwarted any strategic planning.

Sophisticated vocabulary 'vereiteln'.

Das Wetterleuchten am Horizont kündigte das herannahende Unwetter an.

The heat lightning on the horizon announced the approaching storm.

Specific term 'Wetterleuchten'.

In den Schriften Goethes nimmt das Wetter oft eine fast göttliche Dimension an.

In Goethe's writings, the weather often takes on an almost divine dimension.

Literary analysis.

Die Kapriolen des Wetters machten den Landwirten schwer zu schaffen.

The antics of the weather caused great trouble for the farmers.

Idiomatic 'zu schaffen machen'.

Das Wetter ist der Spiegel der atmosphärischen Dynamik unseres Planeten.

The weather is the mirror of our planet's atmospheric dynamics.

Philosophical/Scientific metaphor.

Das Wetter fügte sich nahtlos in die düstere Szenerie des Dramas ein.

The weather integrated seamlessly into the gloomy scenery of the drama.

Reflexive 'sich einfügen'.

Trotz widrigen Wetters harrten die Demonstranten auf dem Platz aus.

Despite adverse weather, the protesters held out in the square.

Adjective 'widrig' and verb 'ausharren'.

Common Collocations

schönes Wetter

schlechtes Wetter

das Wetter umschlagen

den Wetterbericht hören

wechselhaftes Wetter

beständiges Wetter

das Wetter genießen

witterungsbedingt

bei jedem Wetter

das Wetter vorhersagen

Common Phrases

Wie ist das Wetter?

— Standard way to ask about current conditions.

Wie ist das Wetter heute in München?

Das Wetter hält sich.

— The weather stays good or stable.

Hoffentlich hält sich das Wetter bis zum Abend.

Glück mit dem Wetter haben.

— To be lucky with the weather conditions.

Wir hatten wirklich Glück mit dem Wetter bei unserer Hochzeit.

Bei Wind und Wetter.

— In all kinds of weather, especially bad.

Die Postboten arbeiten bei Wind und Wetter.

Das Wetter spielt verrückt.

— The weather is behaving very unusually.

Im Moment spielt das Wetter wirklich verrückt; gestern war es heiß, heute schneit es.

Schönwetterperiode

— A period of consistently good weather.

Wir befinden uns gerade in einer langen Schönwetterperiode.

Wetterumschwung

— A sudden change in weather conditions.

Ein Wetterumschwung ist für morgen angekündigt.

Wetteraussichten

— The future weather outlook or forecast.

Die Wetteraussichten für den Sommer sind gut.

Wetterfühligkeit

— Sensitivity to weather changes (common in Germany).

Viele Menschen leiden unter Wetterfühligkeit.

Sauwetter

— Very bad, rainy, or miserable weather (colloquial).

Was für ein Sauwetter heute!

Often Confused With

das Wetter vs wieder

Sounds similar but means 'again'.

das Wetter vs wider

Sounds similar but means 'against'.

das Wetter vs Watte

Visual confusion for absolute beginners; means 'cotton wool'.

Idioms & Expressions

"Jemanden im Regen stehen lassen"

— To abandon someone in a difficult situation.

Er hat mich mit der ganzen Arbeit im Regen stehen lassen.

colloquial

"Aus allen Wolken fallen"

— To be extremely surprised or shocked.

Als ich die Nachricht hörte, fiel ich aus allen Wolken.

neutral

"Viel Wind um nichts machen"

— To make a big fuss about something unimportant.

Reg dich nicht auf, du machst nur viel Wind um nichts.

colloquial

"Wissen, woher der Wind weht"

— To know what the real situation or intention is.

Nach dem Gespräch wusste ich endlich, woher der Wind weht.

neutral

"Ein Gesicht wie sieben Tage Regenwetter machen"

— To look very miserable or grumpy.

Warum machst du so ein Gesicht wie sieben Tage Regenwetter?

colloquial

"Bei jemandem unten durch sein"

— To be out of favor with someone (like being under a storm cloud).

Nach dem Fehler bin ich bei meinem Chef unten durch.

informal

"Auf Regen folgt Sonnenschein"

— Things will get better after a bad period.

Kopf hoch! Auf Regen folgt Sonnenschein.

proverbial

"Das ist Schnee von gestern"

— That is old news or no longer relevant.

Sorg dich nicht um den alten Streit, das ist Schnee von gestern.

neutral

"Sich wie ein Wetterfrosch benehmen"

— To constantly change one's mind or predictions.

Er benimmt sich wie ein Wetterfrosch; man weiß nie, was er will.

informal

"Etwas an die große Glocke hängen"

— To make something widely known (historically related to weather bells).

Du musst unser Geheimnis nicht gleich an die große Glocke hängen.

neutral

Easily Confused

das Wetter vs Klima

Both relate to atmosphere.

Wetter is short-term (today); Klima is long-term (30 years).

Das Wetter heute ist heiß, aber das Klima hier ist eigentlich mild.

das Wetter vs Witterung

Often used interchangeably.

Witterung is technical and describes a period of several days.

Die Witterung der letzten Woche war sehr trocken.

das Wetter vs Atmosphäre

Both involve air.

Atmosphäre is the gas layer or a mood; Wetter is the state of that layer.

Die Atmosphäre der Erde schützt uns, während das Wetter uns nass macht.

das Wetter vs Himmel

We look at the sky to see weather.

Himmel is the physical 'sky'; Wetter is what is happening in it.

Der Himmel ist blau, das Wetter ist also gut.

das Wetter vs Luft

Weather is made of air.

Luft is the substance (air); Wetter is the condition.

Die Luft ist frisch nach dem Regenwetter.

Sentence Patterns

Das Wetter ist [Adjektiv].

Das Wetter ist gut.

Wie wird das Wetter [Zeitpunkt]?

Wie wird das Wetter morgen?

Bei [Adjektiv]em Wetter [Verb] wir.

Bei schönem Wetter wandern wir.

Wegen [Genitiv] fällt [Nomen] aus.

Wegen des Wetters fällt der Flug aus.

Das Wetter zeichnet sich durch [Nomen] aus.

Das Wetter zeichnet sich durch hohe Feuchtigkeit aus.

Trotz [Adjektiv]en Wetters [Verb]...

Trotz widrigen Wetters harrten sie aus.

Das Wetter lässt zu wünschen übrig.

Das Wetter lässt heute wirklich zu wünschen übrig.

Ich hoffe auf [Adjektiv]es Wetter.

Ich hoffe auf sonniges Wetter.

Word Family

Nouns

Wetterbericht

Wetterkarte

Wetterfrosch

Wetterhahn

Wetterlage

Wettervorhersage

Verbs

wettern (to rant/rail)

verwittern (to weather/erode)

abwettern (to wait out a storm)

Adjectives

wetterfest (weatherproof)

wetterwendisch (fickle)

wetterfühlig (weather-sensitive)

Klima

Witterung

Atmosphäre

Meteorologie

Vorhersage

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high; among the top 500 most used nouns in German.

Common Mistakes

Der Wetter ist gut. → Das Wetter ist gut.
Wetter is neuter, not masculine.
In schönem Wetter... → Bei schönem Wetter...
The preposition 'bei' is used for weather conditions.
Das Wetter macht mich glücklich. → Das Wetter hebt meine Stimmung.
While understandable, 'macht mich glücklich' sounds a bit literal/English-translated.
Das Wetter ist 20 Grad. → Es sind 20 Grad.
The weather 'is' not a number; the temperature is.
Wir haben heute ein schönes Wetter. → Wir haben heute schönes Wetter.
The indefinite article 'ein' is usually omitted with 'Wetter'.

Tips

Gender Memory

Associate 'das Wetter' with 'das Wasser' (water) since rain is a big part of weather.

Small Talk

If you don't know what to say, comment on the weather. It's never wrong in Germany.

Compound Power

German loves compounds. Combine 'Wetter' with almost anything to be specific.

The 'W' Sound

Bite your lower lip slightly to get that perfect German 'V' sound for 'Wetter'.

Impersonal Verbs

Master 'es regnet', 'es schneit', and 'es blitzt' alongside the noun.

Radio Reports

Listen to German radio weather reports; they are repetitive and great for practice.

Genitive Case

Use 'wegen des Wetters' in your writing to instantly sound more advanced.

Adjectives

Learn a few 'extreme' adjectives like 'eiskalt' or 'glühend heiß' to add flavor.

Double T

The two 't's in Wetter look like two people standing in the rain together.

Regenwetter-Gesicht

Use the idiom about the '7 days of rain face' to describe someone grumpy.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Vetter' (cousin) talking about the 'Wetter'. They both sound similar and have 'ett' in the middle.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant 'W' shaped cloud raining down 'T' shaped raindrops.

Word Web

Sonne Regen Schnee Wind Wolken Temperatur Himmel Vorhersage

Challenge

Try to describe the weather in German every morning for a week when you first wake up.

Word Origin

From Middle High German 'weter', from Old High German 'wetar'. It is cognate with English 'weather' and Dutch 'weer'.

Original meaning: The word originally meant 'wind' or 'breeze' in Proto-Germanic.

Germanic branch of the Indo-European family.

Cultural Context

None, weather is a neutral and safe topic for all audiences.

Similar to the UK, weather is a primary small talk topic, but Germans are often more technical about it.

The 'Wetterfrosch' (weather frog) - a traditional way of predicting weather. Goethe's 'Wandrers Nachtlied' - uses weather imagery. The song 'Wann wird's mal wieder richtig Sommer?' by Rudi Carrell.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Morning Routine

Wie wird das Wetter heute?
Muss ich einen Regenschirm mitnehmen?
Der Wetterbericht sagt Sonne.
Es sieht nach Regen aus.

Travel Planning

Hoffentlich haben wir gutes Wetter.
Was machen wir bei schlechtem Wetter?
Das Wetter in den Bergen ist unberechenbar.
Wir müssen den Wetterbericht prüfen.

Small Talk

Schönes Wetter heute, nicht wahr?
Ganz schön heiß heute.
Endlich mal wieder Sonne!
Das Wetter könnte besser sein.

Work/Office

Wegen des Wetters war viel Stau.
Das Wetter ist heute perfekt für die Mittagspause.
Haben Sie das Unwetter gestern Abend mitbekommen?
Bei dem Wetter arbeitet es sich schwer.

Sports/Hobbies

Das Spiel wurde wegen des Wetters verschoben.
Ist das Wetter gut zum Segeln?
Bei diesem Wetter gehe ich nicht joggen.
Wir brauchen wetterfeste Kleidung.

Conversation Starters

"Schönes Wetter heute, finden Sie nicht auch?"

"Glauben Sie, dass das Wetter heute so schön bleibt?"

"Haben Sie den Wetterbericht für das Wochenende gehört?"

"Was für ein schreckliches Wetter heute, oder?"

"Mögen Sie dieses heiße Wetter, oder ist es Ihnen zu viel?"

Journal Prompts

Beschreibe das Wetter heute in deiner Stadt und wie es deine Laune beeinflusst.

Was ist dein Lieblingswetter und warum? Beschreibe einen perfekten Tag.

Erinnere dich an einen Tag, an dem das Wetter deine Pläne komplett zerstört hat.

Wie unterscheidet sich das Wetter in deinem Heimatland von dem in Deutschland?

Schreibe über eine Wettererscheinung, die du besonders faszinierend oder beängstigend findest.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, it is always 'das Wetter'. Using 'der' or 'die' is a common mistake for learners.

Technically yes ('die Wetter'), but it is almost never used in daily life. You would use 'Wetterlagen' instead.

It refers to a day with bright blue skies and sunshine, named after Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria.

You should say 'Es sind 20 Grad' or 'Das Thermometer zeigt 20 Grad'.

The noun 'Wetter' is not a verb, but 'wettern' exists, meaning to rant or rail against something.

It means 'There is a draft,' which Germans often consider a health risk related to weather.

Literally a 'weather frog,' it is a colloquial term for a weather forecaster.

The best word is 'wechselhaft'.

Always use 'bei' for weather conditions: 'bei Regen', 'bei Sonnenschein'.

Traditional folk rhymes used to predict the weather based on historical observations.