French Phrase
Il fait gris.
Meaning
Literally “It makes gray,” this French idiom is used to say that the sky is overcast or that the day looks dull and colorless.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to comment on a cloudy, overcast day, especially in casual conversation about the weather or when the gray sky hints at an upcoming rain.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ilfaitgris
Subject pronoun Il
Used for impersonal weather expressions; it does not refer to a specific person.
Faire (present)
The verb faire in the third‑person singular (fait) is the standard way to describe the state of the weather.
Adjective gris
Placed after the verb when describing weather; it stays invariable because it does not modify a noun.
🗨In Conversation
Il fait gris aujourd'hui, n'est‑ce pas ?
It's gray today, isn't it?
Oui, on dirait qu'il va pleuvoir.
Yes, it looks like it's going to rain.
✕Common Mistakes
Il est gris.
Il est gris describes a thing that is gray (e.g., a shirt), not the weather.
Il fait grise.
Gris does not agree in gender or number in weather expressions; it stays unchanged.
↔Alternatives
Le ciel est gris.
The sky is gray.
Il fait sombre.
It's gloomy.
Le temps est couvert.
The weather is overcast.
Cultural Tip
In French, weather is almost always expressed with impersonal constructions that start with Il fait (e.g., Il fait chaud, Il fait froid). The adjective gris is neutral; however, French speakers often associate a gray sky with a slightly melancholic mood, so you might hear it paired with comments about feeling “un peu triste” or “déprimé.” The phrase works everywhere in the Francophone world, but in some regions (e.g., Québec) people may also say “Il fait gris‑bleu” for a bluish‑gray sky.