How do you say Weather in German?

Whether it’s sunshine, rain, snow, or storm - when you’re talking about what’s happening outside, Germans call it Wetter. It’s the perfect small talk starter, a daily forecast, and a mood influencer, all in one word.

The noun Wetter means weather, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. You’ll hear it in everyday conversation, news broadcasts, and grumbles at the bus stop.

It’s a neuter noun, so we say das Wetter.

Pronunciation

Wetter is pronounced [ˈvɛtɐ], roughly "VET-tuh."

• The “W” is pronounced like an English “V.”
• The “e” is short and sharp, like in “better,”
• The double “t” is a single t sound (it just marks the short e), and the -er is a soft “uh.”

Use a clear t and a reduced final vowel; American “better” often has a flapped t and an r sound, so it is not an exact match.

Example sentences:

• Das Wetter ist heute wirklich schön.The weather is really nice today.
• Ich hoffe, das Wetter hält bis zum Wochenende.I hope the weather holds until the weekend.

Nuance and usage tips

Wetter refers to the overall state of the atmosphere - rain, sun, clouds, snow, temperature, wind, etc. It’s used just like “weather” in English and shows up in all kinds of everyday phrases:

• Wie ist das Wetter? - What’s the weather like?
  gutes Wetter - good weather
• schlechtes Wetter - bad weather
• Wetterbericht - weather report
• Wettervorhersage - weather forecast
• Wetterumschwung - weather change

German has dozens of expressions tied to Wetter, especially when describing moods, plans, or excuses.