Meaning
Used to describe rainy weather.
Cultural Background
Rain is so common here that there are dozens of words for it. It's a point of regional identity, often joked about by locals who claim it only rains on tourists. The 'grisaille parisienne' refers to the grey, rainy skies that often cover the city. It's considered part of the city's melancholic charm and is a frequent theme in French photography. In Quebec, weather is a serious topic of conversation. 'Il pleut' is often followed by a discussion on how it will affect the snow or the maple syrup season. In many West African countries, the arrival of rain after a dry season is a cause for celebration and is often described with more positive connotations than in Europe.
The 'Il' is a Ghost
Don't try to find who 'Il' is. It's just a grammatical requirement. Think of it as 'The weather is raining'.
Avoid 'C'est'
Never say 'C'est pleut'. It's the most common mistake for English speakers. Stick to 'Il'.
Meaning
Used to describe rainy weather.
The 'Il' is a Ghost
Don't try to find who 'Il' is. It's just a grammatical requirement. Think of it as 'The weather is raining'.
Avoid 'C'est'
Never say 'C'est pleut'. It's the most common mistake for English speakers. Stick to 'Il'.
Sound like a Native
Use 'Il flotte' when you're with friends to sound more natural and less like a textbook.
The Perfect Icebreaker
If you don't know what to say to a French person, just comment on the rain. It works every time.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb for 'It is raining'.
Regarde par la fenêtre, ___ ___.
In French, we use the impersonal 'il' followed by 'pleut' to describe the weather.
Which sentence correctly says 'It rained yesterday'?
Hier, ...
'Il a plu' is the passé composé of 'pleuvoir'. 'Il pleuvait' is the imperfect, used for descriptions, but 'il a plu' is better for a completed event.
Match the French expression with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These variations describe the intensity and register of the rain.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural response.
A: On va à la plage ? B: Non, regarde le ciel, ___ ___ ___.
'Il va pleuvoir' (it's going to rain) makes the most sense as a reason to not go to the beach based on looking at the sky.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Intensity of Rain
Practice Bank
4 exercisesRegarde par la fenêtre, ___ ___.
In French, we use the impersonal 'il' followed by 'pleut' to describe the weather.
Hier, ...
'Il a plu' is the passé composé of 'pleuvoir'. 'Il pleuvait' is the imperfect, used for descriptions, but 'il a plu' is better for a completed event.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These variations describe the intensity and register of the rain.
A: On va à la plage ? B: Non, regarde le ciel, ___ ___ ___.
'Il va pleuvoir' (it's going to rain) makes the most sense as a reason to not go to the beach based on looking at the sky.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsNo, weather verbs in French are strictly masculine impersonal 'il'.
'Il pleut' is neutral and standard. 'Il flotte' is informal/slang.
Use the near future: 'Il va pleuvoir'.
No, for snow you must use 'il neige'.
Most French verbs, including weather verbs, use 'avoir' as the auxiliary in the passé composé.
Yes, to describe anything falling in large amounts, like 'il pleut des emails'.
You can say 'Il pleut à verse' or 'Il pleut des cordes'.
Yes, they are very similar. 'Pleut' ends in /ø/ and 'pleure' ends in /œʁ/.
It is neutral. It's appropriate for both formal and informal settings.
The noun is {la|f} pluie.
This is poetic but not used in daily speech. Stick to 'Il pleut'.
You can say 'Est-ce qu'il pleut ?' or simply 'Il pleut ?' with rising intonation.
Related Phrases
Il flotte
synonymIt's raining (informal)
Il pleut des cordes
specialized formIt's raining cats and dogs
Il bruine
similarIt's drizzling
Il tombe des hallebardes
idiomIt's raining halberds
Le temps est pluvieux
similarThe weather is rainy
