German Phrase
Es bläst ganz schön.
Meaning
Literally 'It blows quite nicely', this idiomatic sentence is used to comment that the wind is fairly strong. It conveys a casual observation about the weather, often with a hint of mild surprise or mild complaint.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re outside and feel the wind pushing against you – during a walk, a bike ride, or when planning outdoor activities. It works in informal conversation with friends or family, but would sound odd in a formal weather report.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Esblästganzschön
Es (dummy subject)
In German weather statements, 'es' is a dummy pronoun that does not refer to anything specific, similar to English 'it'.
bläst (verb)
Third‑person singular present of 'blasen' meaning 'to blow'. Used for wind or any moving air.
ganz (intensifier)
Colloquial adverb meaning 'quite', 'rather', or 'fairly' when placed before another adverb.
schön (adverb)
In spoken German 'schön' can function as an intensifier meaning 'quite' or 'fairly', not the literal 'beautiful'.
🗨In Conversation
Es bläst ganz schön heute, oder?
It’s pretty windy today, isn’t it?
Ja, ich glaube, wir sollten den Regenschirm mitnehmen.
Yeah, I think we should take an umbrella.
✕Common Mistakes
It blows beautifully.
Learners often translate 'schön' as 'beautiful', but here it works as an intensifier meaning 'quite'.
Es bläst ganz schön.
Do not use 'ganz schön' to mean 'very beautiful' in this context; it would change the meaning completely.
↔Alternatives
Es weht stark.
It’s blowing strongly.
Es ist ziemlich windig.
It’s fairly windy.
Der Wind bläst ziemlich stark.
The wind is blowing quite strongly.
Cultural Tip
German speakers often use 'ganz schön' as a colloquial intensifier, especially in the north and east of Germany. It sounds friendly and informal, so avoid it in formal writing or news broadcasts. In some regions, people might say 'es bläst ordentlich' or 'es bläst kräftig' instead.