French Phrase
Les nuages vont rester.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘The clouds are going to stay.’ It indicates that the clouds are expected to remain in the sky for a while, often implying continued overcast weather.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to comment on the weather forecast, especially when the sky stays cloudy for an extended period. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a gloomy mood that isn’t likely to lift soon.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lesnuagesvontrester
Article défini (Les)
‘Les’ is the plural definite article used before masculine or feminine nouns in the plural.
Nom pluriel (nuages)
‘nuages’ is the masculine plural form of ‘nuage’ (cloud).
Futur proche (vont + infinitif)
‘vont’ is the third‑person plural of ‘aller’; combined with an infinitive it forms the near future (futur proche).
Infinitif (rester)
‘rester’ means ‘to stay, remain’; here it is the infinitive that follows ‘vont’.
🗨In Conversation
Quel temps fait‑il aujourd'hui?
What’s the weather like today?
Les nuages vont rester toute la journée.
The clouds are going to stay all day.
✕Common Mistakes
Les nuages vont rester couvert.
Do not confuse ‘vont rester’ with ‘vont rester’ + adjective; the verb must stay infinitive.
Les nuage vont rester.
The plural article ‘les’ requires the plural noun ‘nuages’.
Les nuages resteront.
Using the simple future ‘resteront’ changes the nuance; it’s correct but not the same near‑future sense.
↔Alternatives
Les nuages resteront.
The clouds will stay.
Il va rester nuageux.
It will stay cloudy.
Le ciel restera couvert.
The sky will remain overcast.
Cultural Tip
In French weather reports, the phrase ‘Il va rester nuageux’ is more common than ‘Les nuages vont rester.’ However, using the noun ‘les nuages’ adds a visual emphasis, useful in storytelling or poetic descriptions. Remember that French tends to avoid overly literal translations of English idioms; instead, choose the phrasing that fits the register—formal forecasts use ‘Il restera couvert.’