German Phrase
Scheint die Sonne?
Meaning
Literally ‘Is the sun shining?’, this short question is used to ask about the current weather, especially whether the sun is out.
When to use
Use it when you want to confirm the weather before planning an outdoor activity, during a casual chat about the day, or when you’re simply making small‑talk about the climate.
✦Grammar Breakdown
ScheintdieSonne?
Verb‑Second (V2) in Yes/No Questions
In German yes/no questions the finite verb moves to the first position, followed by the subject.
Verb "scheinen"
"scheinen" means ‘to shine’ or ‘to seem’; here it is used in the 3rd person singular present (scheint).
Nominative Subject
"die Sonne" is the subject of the sentence and stays in the nominative case.
🗨In Conversation
Scheint die Sonne?
Is the sun shining?
Ja, es ist warm und schön.
Yes, it’s warm and nice.
✕Common Mistakes
Schein die Sonne?
The verb must be conjugated as "scheint" (3rd person singular). "Schein" is the noun meaning ‘shine’ and is incorrect here.
Scheint es die Sonne?
The dummy subject "es" is not used with "scheinen" when the real subject (die Sonne) follows; the correct order is "Scheint die Sonne?"
↔Alternatives
Scheint heute die Sonne?
Is the sun shining today?
Ist die Sonne draußen?
Is the sun out?
Wie ist das Wetter – scheint die Sonne?
How's the weather – is the sun shining?
Cultural Tip
Talking about the weather is a staple of German small‑talk. "Scheint die Sonne?" is informal and works well with friends, family, or colleagues you know well. In more formal settings you might say "Ist die Sonne heute zu sehen?" which sounds a bit more polite.