Greek Words for Weather: Essential Vocabulary Guide
Understanding Greek words for weather is essential for daily conversations, travel planning, and connecting with native speakers. Whether you're discussing the famous Greek sunshine or an unexpected rainstorm, this guide covers all the vocabulary you need.
Essential Weather Vocabulary
These core Greek words for weather form the foundation of any weather-related conversation. Master these terms first before moving on to more advanced expressions.
| Word | Pronunciation | English | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ο καιρός | o ke-ROS | the weather | Πώς είναι ο καιρός σήμερα; (How is the weather today?) |
| ο ήλιος | o EE-lee-os | the sun | Ο ήλιος λάμπει. (The sun is shining.) |
| η βροχή | ee vro-HEE | the rain | Έρχεται βροχή. (Rain is coming.) |
| το χιόνι | to hee-O-nee | the snow | Πέφτει χιόνι στα βουνά. (Snow is falling in the mountains.) |
| ο άνεμος | o A-ne-mos | the wind | Φυσάει δυνατός άνεμος. (A strong wind is blowing.) |
| τα σύννεφα | ta SEE-ne-fa | the clouds | Τα σύννεφα είναι γκρίζα. (The clouds are gray.) |
| η καταιγίδα | ee ka-te-YEE-da | the storm | Έρχεται καταιγίδα απόψε. (A storm is coming tonight.) |
| η ομίχλη | ee o-MEEKH-lee | the fog | Υπάρχει πυκνή ομίχλη. (There is thick fog.) |
| η αστραπή | ee a-stra-PEE | the lightning | Είδα μια αστραπή. (I saw a lightning bolt.) |
| η βροντή | ee vron-DEE | the thunder | Ακούω βροντές. (I hear thunder.) |
| το ουράνιο τόξο | to oo-RA-nee-o TOK-so | the rainbow | Βλέπω ένα ουράνιο τόξο! (I see a rainbow!) |
| ο πάγος | o PA-gos | the ice | Προσοχή, υπάρχει πάγος. (Careful, there is ice.) |
| η υγρασία | ee ee-gra-SEE-a | the humidity | Η υγρασία είναι υψηλή. (The humidity is high.) |
| η θερμοκρασία | ee ther-mo-kra-SEE-a | the temperature | Η θερμοκρασία είναι 30 βαθμοί. (The temperature is 30 degrees.) |
| το χαλάζι | to kha-LA-zee | the hail | Έπεσε χαλάζι χτες. (Hail fell yesterday.) |
Common Phrases
Beyond individual Greek words for weather, you'll need these useful expressions to discuss conditions naturally in conversation.
| Phrase | Pronunciation | English | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Κάνει ζέστη | KA-nee ZE-stee | It's hot | Κάνει πολύ ζέστη σήμερα. (It's very hot today.) |
| Κάνει κρύο | KA-nee KREE-o | It's cold | Κάνει κρύο το πρωί. (It's cold in the morning.) |
| Βρέχει | VRE-hee | It's raining | Βρέχει έξω. (It's raining outside.) |
| Χιονίζει | khee-o-NEE-zee | It's snowing | Χιονίζει στη Θεσσαλονίκη. (It's snowing in Thessaloniki.) |
| Φυσάει | fee-SA-ee | It's windy | Φυσάει πολύ στα νησιά. (It's very windy on the islands.) |
| Έχει συννεφιά | E-hee see-ne-FEE-a | It's cloudy | Έχει συννεφιά αλλά δεν βρέχει. (It's cloudy but not raining.) |
| Έχει λιακάδα | E-hee lee-a-KA-da | It's sunny | Έχει λιακάδα, πάμε παραλία! (It's sunny, let's go to the beach!) |
| Τι καιρό κάνει; | tee ke-RO KA-nee | What's the weather like? | Τι καιρό κάνει στην Αθήνα; (What's the weather like in Athens?) |
Usage Notes
When using Greek words for weather, keep these important cultural and grammatical points in mind:
- The verb "κάνει" - Greeks use the verb κάνει (it makes/does) with weather adjectives rather than "is." So instead of saying "it is hot," you say κάνει ζέστη (it makes heat).
- Regional weather vocabulary - The Aegean islands have specific wind names like ο μελτέμι (meltemi), the famous summer wind. This cultural vocabulary shows deep connection between Greeks and their climate.
- Temperature in Celsius - Greece uses Celsius exclusively. Βαθμοί Κελσίου (degrees Celsius) is the standard measurement.
- Summer expectations - Summers in Greece are famously hot and dry. Phrases like καύσωνας (heat wave) are commonly heard from June to August.
- Impersonal verbs - Weather verbs like βρέχει (it rains), χιονίζει (it snows), and φυσάει (it's windy) are always in third person singular with no explicit subject.
- Definite articles - Unlike English, Greek almost always uses the definite article with weather nouns: ο καιρός, η βροχή, ο ήλιος.
Practice Sentences
Put your knowledge of Greek words for weather to use with these example sentences for various situations:
- Ο καιρός είναι υπέροχος σήμερα.
O ke-ROS EE-ne ee-PE-ro-khos SEE-me-ra.
The weather is wonderful today. - Πρέπει να πάρω ομπρέλα γιατί θα βρέξει.
PRE-pee na PA-ro om-BRE-la ya-TEE tha VRE-ksee.
I need to take an umbrella because it will rain. - Τον χειμώνα κάνει πολύ κρύο στην Ελλάδα.
ton hee-MO-na KA-nee po-LEE KREE-o steen e-LA-da.
In winter it gets very cold in Greece. - Η πρόγνωση του καιρού λέει ότι θα έχει καταιγίδα.
ee PRO-ghno-see too ke-ROO LE-ee O-tee tha E-hee ka-te-YEE-da.
The weather forecast says there will be a storm. - Μου αρέσει ο καιρός της άνοιξης.
moo a-RE-see o ke-ROS tees A-neek-sees.
I like spring weather. - Χτες είχε πολύ υγρασία και ζέστη.
khtes EE-he po-LEE ee-gra-SEE-a ke ZE-stee.
Yesterday there was a lot of humidity and heat. - Ο άνεμος είναι τόσο δυνατός που δεν μπορώ να περπατήσω.
o A-ne-mos EE-ne TO-so dee-na-TOS poo den bo-RO na per-pa-TEE-so.
The wind is so strong that I can't walk. - Μετά τη βροχή, είδαμε ένα όμορφο ουράνιο τόξο.
me-TA tee vro-HEE, EE-da-me E-na O-mor-fo oo-RA-nee-o TOK-so.
After the rain, we saw a beautiful rainbow.