Weather - Portuguese (European)

Using the Verb 'Ter' to Describe the Weather

In Portuguese, 'ter' can be used to express what kind of weather there is. It's often used to talk about the general atmosphere or conditions concerning temperature:

• Tem que estar uma temperatura ideal para o piquenique. (The temperature has to be ideal for the picnic.)
• Hoje o tempo tem que ser mais frio. (Today the weather has to be cooler.)
• Ao meio-dia, a cidade tem que ter calor. (At noon, the city has to be hot.)

Using the Verb 'Estar' to Describe the Weather

The verb 'estar' is widely used to describe current or temporary states of the weather. Use it to talk about how the weather feels now:

• Hoje está frio e humido. (Today it is cold and humid.)
• Amanhã vai estar calor e sol. (Tomorrow it will be hot and sunny.)
• O céu está cloudy com pouco sol. (The sky is cloudy with little sun.)
• Está nevoeiro pela manhã. (It's foggy in the morning.)
• A previsão diz que estará neve amanhã. (The forecast says it will be snowy tomorrow.)

Describing Atmospheric Conditions

Describing what the weather is doing involves several terms in Portuguese regarding common weather phenomena:

• Chove frequentemente nesta região. (It rains frequently in this region.)
• A chuva trouxe novas flores na primavera. (The rain brought new flowers in the spring.)
• No inverno, há muito frio e neve. (In winter, there is a lot of cold and snow.)
• O nevoeiro escondeu as estrelas. (The fog hid the stars.)
• O céu estava cheio de constelações à noite. (The sky was full of constellations at night.)

Describing the Seasons of the Year

Each of the four seasons, 'as estações do ano', brings distinct weather patterns:

• 'O inverno' (Winter): Caracterizes by 'frio', 'neve', and shorter days. It's the season of coats and warm drinks.
• 'O outono' (Autumn): Known for its cooler temperatures and falling leaves. It's the transition from summer to winter.
• 'A primavera' (Spring): The time of blossoming flowers and milder temperatures. After the cold winter, 'as estrelas' and 'constelações' are more visible.
• 'O verão' (Summer): Characterized by 'calor' and often 'pouco' rain. It's the season for the beach and vacations.

Knowing these terms can help in understanding cultural discussions about the weather and what activities are suitable for each season.