A1 Expression Neutral

Che tempo fa?

What is the weather like?

Phrase in 30 Seconds

The essential Italian phrase to ask about the weather conditions outside.

  • Means: What is the weather like?
  • Used in: Casual conversations, travel planning, and daily small talk.
  • Don't confuse: 'Che tempo fa?' (weather) with 'Che ore sono?' (time).
Sun ☀️ + Cloud ☁️ + Question Mark ❓ = Perfect small talk

Explanation at your level:

This is a simple question to ask about the weather. You use it to know if it is sunny or raining.
This expression uses the verb 'fare' to inquire about atmospheric conditions. It is the standard way to start a conversation about the climate.
As an A1-level expression, 'Che tempo fa?' is highly idiomatic. It relies on the verb 'fare' to describe the state of the environment, reflecting the Italian tendency to view weather as an active process.
The phrase demonstrates the Italian linguistic preference for 'fare' in meteorological contexts. It is a functional, high-frequency expression that serves as a cornerstone for social interaction in Italy, bridging the gap between simple inquiry and social engagement.
Analyzing 'Che tempo fa?' reveals the intersection of Latin etymology and modern colloquial usage. The shift from 'tempus' as time to 'tempo' as weather highlights the semantic evolution of the language, while the syntactic structure remains fixed in the third-person singular.
From a cognitive linguistics perspective, 'Che tempo fa?' externalizes the environment as an agentive force. By utilizing the verb 'fare', the speaker attributes the state of the atmosphere to an implicit, active process, which is a hallmark of the Romance language approach to meteorological description.

Meaning

Inquiring about current weather conditions.

🌍

Cultural Background

Weather is a primary topic for social interaction.

💡

Use it daily

Practice with weather apps.

Meaning

Inquiring about current weather conditions.

💡

Use it daily

Practice with weather apps.

Test Yourself

Complete the phrase.

Che tempo ____?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fa

The verb 'fare' is used for weather.

🎉 Score: /1

Frequently Asked Questions

1 questions

No, use 'Che ore sono'.

Related Phrases

🔄

Com'è il tempo?

synonym

How is the weather?

Where to Use It

✈️

Checking before a trip

Luca: Che tempo fa a Londra?

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Weather Fairy' (Fa-iry) making the weather. 'Che tempo FA?'

Visual Association

Imagine a person looking out a window with a giant question mark hovering over their head.

Rhyme

Che tempo fa? Is it sunny or gray?

Story

Marco wakes up. He wants to go to the beach. He looks at his phone and asks, 'Che tempo fa?'. He sees the sun icon and smiles.

Word Web

temposolepioggianevefreddocaldo

Challenge

Ask 3 people today what the weather is like in their city.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

¿Qué tiempo hace?

Almost identical usage.

French high

Quel temps fait-il?

French requires subject-verb inversion.

German moderate

Wie ist das Wetter?

Uses 'wie' (how) instead of 'che' (what).

Japanese low

天気はどうですか?

No verb 'to make' involved.

Arabic low

كيف الطقس؟

Direct adjective/noun structure.

Chinese low

天气怎么样?

No verb 'to make'.

Korean low

날씨가 어때요?

Uses a descriptive verb.

Portuguese moderate

Como está o tempo?

Uses 'how' instead of 'what'.

Easily Confused

Che tempo fa? vs Che ore sono?

Both start with 'Che'.

One is for weather, one is for time.

FAQ (1)

No, use 'Che ore sono'.

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