French Phrase
Il fait 5 degrés.
Meaning
It is five degrees (Celsius). The sentence is used to state the current temperature, usually in a weather context. In French the metric system is standard, so the temperature is understood to be in Celsius unless otherwise specified.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to tell someone the temperature outside, when you’re checking the weather forecast, or when you’re describing how cold it feels during a conversation about the day’s climate.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ilfait5degrés
Dummy subject Il
In weather expressions French uses the impersonal pronoun 'Il' which has no referent.
Faire for weather
'Faire' is used impersonally to describe temperature, e.g., 'Il fait chaud', 'Il fait 5 degrés'.
Number agreement
The number (5) is spoken as 'cinq' and does not affect the noun 'degrés', which stays plural.
Degrés (noun)
'Degrés' is a masculine plural noun; the article is omitted after the impersonal construction.
🗨In Conversation
Il fait 5 degrés.
It’s 5 degrees.
Oui, il fait froid aujourd'hui.
Yes, it’s cold today.
✕Common Mistakes
Il est 5 degrés.
Use 'Il fait' for weather; 'Il est' is used for time or location, not temperature.
Il fait 5 degré.
The noun 'degré' must stay plural after a number greater than one.
Il fait cinq degré.
Even with the word form of the number, 'degrés' remains plural.
↔Alternatives
Il fait cinq degrés.
It is five degrees.
La température est de 5 degrés.
The temperature is 5 degrees.
Il fait cinq degrés Celsius.
It is five degrees Celsius.
Cultural Tip
In France and most French‑speaking countries temperatures are always given in Celsius, so you rarely need to add the unit. If you’re speaking to someone from a country that uses Fahrenheit, you can add 'Celsius' for clarity. Also, French speakers often pair 'Il fait' with adjectives (Il fait froid, Il fait chaud) as well as with numeric temperatures.