A comprehensive guide to French climate vocabulary, covering key terms for weather, seasons, natural phenomena, and climate change in both French and English.
Understanding French climate vocabulary is essential for discussing the weather, natural events, and environmental issues. This guide covers key categories including weather conditions, seasons, natural phenomena, and climate change terms, providing clear examples to help you use them confidently.
These are common terms for describing everyday weather in French.
| French Singular / Plural | English Singular / Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| le soleil / les soleils | the sun / the suns | Le soleil brille aujourd’hui. | The sun is shining today. |
| la pluie / les pluies | the rain / the rains | Il y a de la pluie ce matin. | There is rain this morning. |
| le vent / les vents | the wind / the winds | Le vent souffle fort ce soir. | The wind is blowing strongly tonight. |
| la neige / — | the snow / — | La neige tombe en montagne. | The snow is falling in the mountains. |
| le brouillard / — | the fog / — | Le brouillard couvre la vallée. | The fog is covering the valley. |
| l’orage / les orages | the storm / the storms | Un orage éclate cet après-midi. | A storm is breaking out this afternoon. |
| la tempête / les tempêtes | the tempest/storm / the tempests | La tempête a endommagé les arbres. | The storm damaged the trees. |
| la grêle / — | the hail / — | La grêle a cassé les vitres. | The hail broke the windows. |
| l’averse / les averses | the shower / the showers | Il y a une averse de pluie. | There is a rain shower. |
| l’humidité / — | the humidity / — | L’humidité est très élevée aujourd’hui. | The humidity is very high today. |
___ (le viento) souffle fort ce soir.
How do you say 'the wind' in French?
le vent
'Le vent' is the French term for 'the wind'. It is a masculine singular noun.
These terms help you talk about different times of the year and their typical weather.
| French Singular / Plural | English Singular / Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| le printemps | spring | Le printemps est une saison douce. | Spring is a mild season. |
| l’été | summer | L’été, il fait très chaud. | In summer, it’s very hot. |
| l’automne | autumn/fall | En automne, les feuilles tombent. | In autumn, leaves fall. |
| l’hiver | winter | L’hiver peut être très froid. | Winter can be very cold. |
| la saison | the season | Chaque saison a son charme. | Each season has its charm. |
| le solstice (d’hiver/d’été) | winter/summer solstice | Le solstice d’été a lieu en juin. | The summer solstice occurs in June. |
| l’équinoxe (de printemps/d’automne) | spring/autumn equinox | L’équinoxe de printemps est en mars. | The spring equinox is in March. |
| la chaleur | the heat | La chaleur de l’été est intense. | The summer heat is intense. |
| le froid | the cold | Le froid de l’hiver est mordant. | Winter’s cold is biting. |
| la douceur | the mildness | Le printemps apporte de la douceur. | Spring brings mildness. |
These words describe larger environmental and atmospheric events.
| French Singular / Plural | English Singular / Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| le nuage / les nuages | the cloud / the clouds | Le ciel est couvert de nuages. | The sky is covered with clouds. |
| l’arc-en-ciel / les arcs-en-ciel | the rainbow / the rainbows | Après la pluie, il y avait un arc-en-ciel. | After the rain, there was a rainbow. |
| la foudre / — | the lightning / — | La foudre a frappé un arbre. | Lightning struck a tree. |
| le tonnerre / — | the thunder / — | Le tonnerre gronde au loin. | The thunder rumbles in the distance. |
| le cyclone / les cyclones | the cyclone / the cyclones | Un cyclone approche des côtes. | A cyclone is approaching the coasts. |
| le tremblement de terre / les tremblements de terre | the earthquake / the earthquakes | Le tremblement de terre a fait beaucoup de dégâts. | The earthquake caused a lot of damage. |
| le tsunami / les tsunamis | the tsunami / the tsunamis | Le tsunami a dévasté la région côtière. | The tsunami devastated the coastal region. |
| l’éruption volcanique / les éruptions volcaniques | the volcanic eruption / the eruptions | L’éruption volcanique a projeté des cendres. | The volcanic eruption projected ash. |
| la sécheresse / les sécheresses | the drought / the droughts | La sécheresse dure depuis plusieurs mois. | The drought has lasted for several months. |
| l’inondation / les inondations | the flood / the floods | Les inondations ont détruit des maisons. | The floods destroyed houses. |
These terms are essential for discussing global warming and environmental challenges.
| French Singular / Plural | English Singular / Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| le changement climatique / — | climate change / — | Le changement climatique affecte la planète. | Climate change affects the planet. |
| le réchauffement climatique / — | global warming / — | Le réchauffement climatique provoque des canicules. | Global warming causes heatwaves. |
| les gaz à effet de serre | greenhouse gases | Les gaz à effet de serre augmentent dans l’atmosphère. | Greenhouse gases are increasing in the atmosphere. |
| la pollution / — | pollution / — | La pollution de l’air est un problème majeur. | Air pollution is a major problem. |
| la déforestation / — | deforestation / — | La déforestation détruit les habitats naturels. | Deforestation destroys natural habitats. |
| les énergies renouvelables | renewable energies | Les énergies renouvelables réduisent les émissions. | Renewable energies reduce emissions. |
| l’empreinte carbone / — | carbon footprint / — | Il faut réduire notre empreinte carbone. | We must reduce our carbon footprint. |
| la fonte des glaciers | glacier melting | La fonte des glaciers est un signe alarmant. | Glacier melting is an alarming sign. |
| la montée des eaux | rising sea levels | La montée des eaux menace les zones côtières. | Rising sea levels threaten coastal areas. |
| la biodiversité / — | biodiversity / — | La biodiversité est essentielle à l’équilibre écologique. | Biodiversity is essential for ecological balance. |
Le ___ affecte la planète.
How do you say 'climate change' in French?
changement climatique
'Changement climatique' is the French term for 'climate change'.
Understanding French climate vocabulary is key to discussing weather, natural events, and environmental challenges confidently. Practice these terms with examples to build your fluency.
Flashcards (1 of 40)
- English Singular / Plural: the sun / the suns
- English Example: The sun is shining today.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
