Talking About the Weather
Just say the verb: Līst. (It is raining.) Snieg. (It is snowing.) For warm or cold, use ir + the -i form: Šodien ir silti. (It is warm today.)
How It Works
Verbs without a subject.
- līst (it rains), past lija: Līst. Vakar lija.
- snieg (it snows), past sniga: Ārā snieg.
- salst (it is freezing): Naktī salst.
In the dictionary, līst and snieg are listed as līt and snigt. In everyday talk you meet the forms above.
Naming the rain, wind or sun. You can name what falls, blows or shines, usually after the verb: Līst lietus. (Rain is falling.) Pūš vējš. (The wind is blowing.) Spīd saule. (The sun is shining.)
Ir + -i. Without a noun, describe the weather with the -i form: Šodien ir silti. (It is warm today.) Ārā ir auksti. (It is cold outside.) Ir saulaini. (It is sunny.) This is the same form as in man ir auksti, just without a person.
Naming laiks. If you say laiks (the weather), the adjective agrees with it, because laiks is a masculine noun: Laiks ir auksts. (The weather is cold.) Šodien ir skaists laiks. (The weather is lovely today.)
Asking and saying no. Kāds šodien ir laiks? (What is the weather like today?) uses kāds. Negation works as usual: Nelīst. (It isn't raining.) Vairs nesnieg. (It has stopped snowing.)
Examples (6)
- Līst.
It is raining.
Word by Word: Rains.
- Ārā snieg.
It is snowing outside.
Word by Word: Outside snows.
- Vakar visu dienu lija.
It rained all day yesterday.
Word by Word: Yesterday all day rained.
Lija is the past of līst.
- Šodien ir silti un saulaini.
It is warm and sunny today.
Word by Word: Today is warmly and sunnily.
No noun is named, so the words take the -i ending.
- Pūš stiprs vējš.
A strong wind is blowing.
Word by Word: Blows strong wind.
- Kāds šodien ir laiks? — Auksts un vējains.
What is the weather like today? — Cold and windy.
The answer describes laiks, a masculine noun, so the adjectives agree with it.
Common Mistakes
Adding a subject like English it.
Tas līst.Līst.Weather verbs have no subject in Latvian. There is no word for this empty it, so the verb stands alone.
Using an adjective when no noun is named.
Ārā ir auksts.Ārā ir auksti.Without a noun such as laiks, use the -i form. The adjective is right only with a noun: Laiks ir auksts.
Using the present form for the past.
Vakar visu dienu līst.Vakar visu dienu lija.Līst is the present. For yesterday, use the past form lija.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Weather verbs need no dummy subject like English it; a noun can name the rain, wind or sun.
Related Patterns
- Adverbs in -iAdverbs Ending in -i
How silti, auksti and saulaini are formed.
Level 1 - kāds / kādaWhat Kind: Kāds
Kāds šodien ir laiks? asks what the weather is like.
Level 2 - šodien / rīt / vakarToday, Tomorrow and Yesterday
Time words that go with weather talk.
Level 1 - vairs / vēl neNo Longer and Not Yet
Vairs nelīst means it has stopped raining.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice Talking About the Weather in Bubblegum
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