In 15 Seconds
- Means 'it's sunny' in Portuguese.
- Literally 'make sun', an active description.
- Common for clear, bright weather.
- Neutral formality, widely used.
Meaning
This is how Portuguese speakers talk about sunny weather! Instead of saying 'it is sunny,' they describe the weather as 'making sun.' It paints a vivid picture of the sky actively producing sunshine, giving it a dynamic feel. It’s the go-to phrase for bright, clear days.
Key Examples
3 of 12Texting a friend about weekend plans
Tomara que continue a fazer sol no sábado para irmos à praia!
I hope it continues to make sun on Saturday so we can go to the beach!
Instagram caption for a sunny day photo
Aquele dia que `faz sol` e tudo fica mais bonito. ☀️ #portugal #verão
That day when it makes sun and everything becomes more beautiful. ☀️ #portugal #summer
At a café, commenting on the weather
Que bom que está fazendo sol hoje, dá até mais ânimo!
How nice that it’s making sun today, it even gives more energy!
Cultural Background
The use of `fazer` with weather is deeply embedded in Portuguese and other Romance languages, reflecting an ancient worldview where natural phenomena were seen as active agents. This personification of nature, treating weather like a force that 'does' or 'makes' things, likely originated from early agricultural societies that depended heavily on understanding and appeasing natural cycles. The phrase `fazer sol` encapsulates this enduring linguistic habit, showing how our ancestors viewed the world around them.
Master the Tenses!
Don't just stick to 'faz sol'. Practice `fazia sol` (imperfect for ongoing past weather) and `fez sol` (preterite for completed past weather) to sound like a native!
It's All in the 'Fazer'
Why 'fazer sol' and not 'estar sol'? This pattern of using 'fazer' for weather is common in Portuguese and other Romance languages, showing an older, active view of nature.
In 15 Seconds
- Means 'it's sunny' in Portuguese.
- Literally 'make sun', an active description.
- Common for clear, bright weather.
- Neutral formality, widely used.
What It Means
This phrase, fazer sol, is the standard way to say 'it's sunny' in Portuguese. It literally translates to 'make sun.' Think of it as the sky actively *creating* sunshine for us to enjoy. It’s not just a state of being; it’s a process! It carries a feeling of brightness, warmth, and good weather, perfect for outdoor plans. It’s the opposite of a gloomy or rainy day.
Origin Story
The use of fazer (to make/do) with weather phenomena is a common feature in Romance languages. Think of fazer frio (it's cold) or fazer calor (it's hot). This linguistic pattern likely stems from an ancient personification of nature. Early speakers might have imagined natural forces, like the sun or the wind, as active agents 'doing' or 'making' things happen. It's like saying the weather is performing an action. This anthropomorphic view of nature is quite old, probably dating back to Latin or even earlier influences. So, fazer sol isn't just a random phrase; it's a linguistic echo from a time when people saw the weather as a character in a play!
How To Use It
Using fazer sol is super straightforward. You simply conjugate the verb fazer according to the subject (which is usually the weather itself, so it stays in the third person singular) and add sol. The most common form you'll hear is está fazendo sol (it is making sun) or simply faz sol (it makes sun). You can also use the imperfect tense, fazia sol, to describe a past sunny day. It's versatile and fits into many sentences about the weather.
Real-Life Examples
Imagine you're planning a picnic: "O dia está lindo, acho que vai fazer sol amanhã." (The day is beautiful, I think it will make sun tomorrow.) Or maybe you're commenting on the weather right now: "Que bom que está fazendo sol, perfeito para ir à praia!" (How nice that it’s making sun, perfect for going to the beach!). You might even see it in a travel blog: "Lisbon in May? Expect lots of fazer sol!" It’s everywhere!
When To Use It
Use fazer sol whenever you want to describe a day that is bright, clear, and sunny. It’s ideal for planning outdoor activities, talking about vacation weather, or just making small talk about the climate. If you see blue skies and feel the warmth of the sun, this is your phrase! It’s the default for good weather reporting. Did you check your weather app? If it says sunshine, you say fazer sol.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use fazer sol when it's cloudy, raining, snowing, or generally gloomy. It specifically means sunny! So, if the sky is overcast or you need an umbrella, this phrase is a no-go. You wouldn't say fazer sol during a thunderstorm, unless you wanted to be very ironic, which is a whole other lesson! Stick to describing the actual conditions.
Common Mistakes
A common slip-up for learners is trying to translate 'it is sunny' too literally. They might say something like ser sol or estar sol. While estar is used for temporary weather conditions, the verb fazer is idiomatic here. Another mistake is forgetting to conjugate fazer. You need faz or está fazendo.
ser sol
✓fazer sol
está sol
✓está fazendo sol
Similar Expressions
While fazer sol is the most common, you might hear variations or related phrases. Dia de sol means 'sunny day,' which is more descriptive. Tempo bom means 'good weather,' which is broader. Céu limpo means 'clear sky.' These all relate to sunny conditions but fazer sol is the active description of the sun shining.
Memory Trick
Picture the sun as a busy chef in the sky, *making* a delicious dish of sunshine for everyone. Every time you see the sun, imagine that chef working hard. Fazer sol – the sun is *making* it! It’s a bit silly, but it works! Or think of it like the sky is *doing* a sun impression. Nailed it!
Quick FAQ
Is fazer sol formal or informal? It’s pretty neutral. Can I use it in a job interview? Yes, if you're discussing outdoor event plans. Does it always mean *very* sunny? Not necessarily, just that the sun is out and visible. It’s the standard term.
Usage Notes
This is a neutral, idiomatic expression for sunny weather. Avoid literal translations like 'ser sol' or 'estar sol'. The verb `fazer` is key here, reflecting a common pattern in Portuguese for describing weather phenomena. Use different tenses (`faz`, `fez`, `faria`, `vai fazer`) to indicate the timeframe accurately.
Master the Tenses!
Don't just stick to 'faz sol'. Practice `fazia sol` (imperfect for ongoing past weather) and `fez sol` (preterite for completed past weather) to sound like a native!
It's All in the 'Fazer'
Why 'fazer sol' and not 'estar sol'? This pattern of using 'fazer' for weather is common in Portuguese and other Romance languages, showing an older, active view of nature.
Avoid Literal Traps!
Learners often try 'ser sol' or 'estar sol' directly. Remember, `fazer sol` is the idiomatic phrase for sunny weather – don't translate word-for-word!
Sound More Natural
Use `está fazendo sol` for weather happening *right now*. It adds a dynamic feel, like you're experiencing the sunshine as you speak!
Examples
12Tomara que continue a fazer sol no sábado para irmos à praia!
I hope it continues to make sun on Saturday so we can go to the beach!
Expresses a wish for sunny weather, using the future subjunctive.
Aquele dia que `faz sol` e tudo fica mais bonito. ☀️ #portugal #verão
That day when it makes sun and everything becomes more beautiful. ☀️ #portugal #summer
A common, slightly poetic way to describe a beautiful sunny day.
Que bom que está fazendo sol hoje, dá até mais ânimo!
How nice that it’s making sun today, it even gives more energy!
Uses the present continuous form to describe the current weather.
Para o evento ao ar livre, esperamos que venha a fazer sol.
For the outdoor event, we hope it will make sun.
Formal prediction using the future tense.
Na semana passada, em Lisboa, fez muito sol todos os dias.
Last week, in Lisbon, it made a lot of sun every day.
Uses the simple past tense to recall past sunny conditions.
A reunião externa foi adiada. Se estivesse fazendo sol, teríamos ido ao parque.
The external meeting was postponed. If it were making sun, we would have gone to the park.
Conditional use, highlighting the absence of sun as a factor.
✗ Ontem ser sol, por isso fomos à praia. → ✓ Ontem fez sol, por isso fomos à praia.
✗ Yesterday it was sun, so we went to the beach. → ✓ Yesterday it made sun, so we went to the beach.
Incorrectly uses 'ser' instead of 'fazer' for past weather.
✗ Eu acho que vai estar sol amanhã. → ✓ Eu acho que vai fazer sol amanhã.
✗ I think it will be sun tomorrow. → ✓ I think it will make sun tomorrow.
Uses 'estar' instead of the idiomatic 'fazer' for future sunny weather.
Hoje não está fazendo sol nem um pouquinho. Acho que o sol tirou folga!
Today it's not making sun one bit. I think the sun took a day off!
Playfully personifies the sun being absent.
Ah, como eu amo quando está fazendo sol assim, me lembra da infância.
Ah, how I love it when it's making sun like this, it reminds me of childhood.
Connects the current sunny weather to nostalgic feelings.
Pedindo comida porque está fazendo sol e não quero sair de casa!
Ordering food because it’s making sun and I don’t want to leave the house!
Casual reason for ordering in, linked to enjoying the sunny weather indoors.
Bem-vindos a Algarve, onde o tempo geralmente faz sol o ano inteiro!
Welcome to the Algarve, where the weather generally makes sun all year round!
General statement about the climate, using 'fazer sol' as a characteristic.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'fazer sol'.
The correct idiomatic expression for future sunny weather is 'vai fazer sol'.
Choose the sentence that uses 'fazer sol' correctly.
Which sentence correctly describes sunny weather?
'Está fazendo sol' is the present continuous form, indicating current sunny weather.
Find and fix the error in the sentence.
The verb 'fazer' must be used for weather, and conjugated in the present subjunctive 'faça' after 'espero que'.
Translate this sentence into Portuguese.
The simple past tense 'fez' is used for a completed action in the past, describing the weather yesterday.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Formality Spectrum for 'Fazer Sol'
Casual chat, slangy contexts.
E aí, tá fazendo sol hoje? Bora pra rua!
Everyday conversations, most common usage.
Que bom que está fazendo sol, perfeito para um passeio.
Official reports, formal writing (less common for this phrase).
Previsão indica que fará sol durante o evento.
When Do You 'Fazer Sol'?
Planning a picnic
Espero que faça sol no sábado!
Instagram caption
Aquele dia que faz sol e tudo fica mais bonito.
Talking about vacation
Em Dezembro, costuma fazer muito sol no Brasil.
Checking the weather
O app diz que vai fazer sol o dia todo.
Describing a past event
Fez sol durante todo o festival.
Small talk
Que bom que está fazendo sol hoje!
Comparing Weather Expressions
Usage Contexts for 'Fazer Sol'
Daily Chat
- • Commenting on current weather
- • Making plans
- • Small talk starter
Social Media
- • Instagram captions
- • WhatsApp status
- • Travel blog posts
Formal/Official
- • Weather forecasts
- • Event planning
- • Reports
Descriptive
- • Recalling past weather
- • Describing a place's climate
- • Setting a scene in writing
Practice Bank
4 exercisesAmanhã vai ______ para um dia perfeito na praia.
The correct idiomatic expression for future sunny weather is 'vai fazer sol'.
Which sentence correctly describes sunny weather?
'Está fazendo sol' is the present continuous form, indicating current sunny weather.
Find and fix the mistake:
Espero que ser sol amanhã para o piquenique.
The verb 'fazer' must be used for weather, and conjugated in the present subjunctive 'faça' after 'espero que'.
It was making sun all day yesterday.
Hints: Use the past tense of 'fazer'., Remember the word order.
The simple past tense 'fez' is used for a completed action in the past, describing the weather yesterday.
🎉 Score: /4
Video Tutorials
Find video tutorials on YouTube for this phrase.
Frequently Asked Questions
20 questionsLiterally, it translates to 'make sun'. In Portuguese, it's the standard and most natural way to say 'it's sunny'. It implies the sun is actively shining, creating a bright and clear day, rather than just being a passive state.
Yes, fazer sol is universally understood and used in both Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese. It's the primary idiom for describing sunny weather across the Portuguese-speaking world.
Yes, it applies to any day where the sun is out and shining. Whether it's a gentle sun or intense heat, as long as the sky is clear and the sun is visible, you can use fazer sol.
You can use it anytime you're talking about current, past, or future sunny weather. For example, 'Hoje faz sol' (Today it's sunny), 'Ontem fez sol' (Yesterday it was sunny), or 'Amanhã vai fazer sol' (Tomorrow it will be sunny).
Simply conjugate the verb fazer. Common forms include 'faz sol' (present), 'está fazendo sol' (present continuous), 'fez sol' (past), and 'vai fazer sol' (future). For instance, 'O dia está lindo, vai fazer sol!' (The day is beautiful, it will be sunny!).
Faz sol is a general statement, often used for habitual weather or a simple description. Está fazendo sol uses the present continuous, emphasizing that the sun is shining *right now*, making it feel more immediate and dynamic.
It's generally considered neutral. You can use it in casual conversations with friends, as well as in more formal contexts like news reports or travel guides. Its versatility makes it a safe choice for most situations.
Yes, if the context is appropriate. For example, if you're discussing plans for an outdoor company event or describing the climate of a region you're applying to work in, saying 'Esperamos que faça sol' (We hope it makes sun) is perfectly acceptable.
The phrase fazer sol sits comfortably at a neutral level of formality. It's not overly casual like slang, nor is it stiffly academic. This makes it highly adaptable for everyday speech and most written communication.
While fazer sol is the main idiom, you might hear related phrases like dia de sol (sunny day) or tempo bom (good weather). However, fazer sol specifically describes the action of the sun shining.
Fazer sol describes the weather condition itself – the sun is out and shining. Dia de sol translates to 'sunny day' and describes the entire day characterized by sunshine. You could say 'Hoje fez sol, foi um dia de sol maravilhoso!' (Today it was sunny, it was a wonderful sunny day!).
While understandable, estar sol is not the standard idiomatic expression. The correct and natural way to talk about sunny weather is using fazer sol. Using estar sol might sound a bit unnatural or like a direct translation from another language.
Using ser sol is grammatically incorrect in this context and sounds very strange to native speakers. The verb ser is typically used for permanent characteristics, not temporary conditions like weather. Stick to fazer for describing sunshine.
A very common mistake is translating 'it is sunny' literally and using verbs like 'ser' or 'estar' incorrectly, such as 'ser sol' or 'estar sol'. The correct idiomatic verb is always 'fazer' (or its conjugated forms).
Fazia sol (imperfect) describes ongoing or habitual sunny weather in the past, like background scenery ('It was sunny all afternoon'). Fez sol (preterite) describes a specific, completed period of sunshine ('It was sunny yesterday').
The phrase reflects a historical view of nature as an active force, where the sun 'makes' the day bright. This linguistic pattern, using fazer for weather, is common in Portuguese and other Romance languages, highlighting cultural perspectives on natural phenomena.
The core phrase fazer sol is standard everywhere. However, the frequency of using different tenses or related expressions like dia de sol might vary slightly, but the meaning remains consistent.
Yes! You can add adverbs like 'muito' (a lot) or 'bastante' (quite). For example, 'Hoje fez muito sol!' (Today it was very sunny!) or 'Amanhã vai fazer bastante sol.' (Tomorrow it will be quite sunny).
Potentially, but it's rare and context-dependent. You might say 'Que dia lindo, está fazendo sol!' during a downpour, but this relies heavily on tone and shared understanding of the irony. It's safer to use it literally.
You wouldn't typically use fazer sol yet. You'd describe it as cloudy (nublado) or partly cloudy (parcialmente nublado). Only when the sun is clearly visible and shining would you say fazer sol.
Related Phrases
dia de sol
related topicsunny day
This phrase describes the outcome of 'fazer sol', referring to the entire day characterized by sunshine.
tempo bom
related topicgood weather
'Tempo bom' is a broader term for pleasant weather, which often includes sunshine but isn't exclusively about it.
fazer chuva
antonymit's raining
This phrase uses the same 'fazer' structure but describes the opposite weather condition: rain instead of sun.
fazer frio
related topicit's cold
Another common weather expression using the verb 'fazer', showing a pattern for describing atmospheric conditions.
céu limpo
related topicclear sky
A clear sky is a prerequisite for 'fazer sol', so these concepts are closely linked in describing good weather.
estar ensolarado
synonymto be sunny
While less common and potentially influenced by English, 'estar ensolarado' can be used as a more direct synonym for 'it's sunny'.