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German Phrase

Wie ist das Wetter heute?

/viː ɪst das ˈvɛtɐ ˈhɔʏtə/
Meaning"How is the weather today?"
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Meaning

This question asks someone to describe the current weather conditions – sunny, rainy, cloudy, etc. It’s a neutral, everyday inquiry used in casual conversation.

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When to use

Use it when you meet a friend, start a small‑talk conversation at work, or need to plan an outdoor activity. It’s a go‑to phrase for breaking the ice in German‑speaking environments.

✦Grammar Breakdown

WieistdasWetterheute?

1

Wie (question word)

‘Wie’ asks ‘how’ and starts a yes‑no or descriptive question; it always appears at the beginning of the clause.

2

ist (sein, 3rd person singular)

‘ist’ is the present tense of ‘sein’ (to be) for third‑person singular subjects; it links the subject with a description.

3

das Wetter (neuter noun)

‘Wetter’ is a neuter noun, so it takes the definite article ‘das’. The phrase ‘das Wetter’ functions as the subject of the sentence.

4

heute (temporal adverb)

‘heute’ means ‘today’ and is placed after the subject‑verb phrase in a main clause.

🗨In Conversation

A

Wie ist das Wetter heute?

How is the weather today?

Es ist ziemlich bewölkt und es regnet leicht.

It’s quite cloudy and it’s drizzling a little.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Wie ist das Wetter heute

    Missing the question mark makes it look like a statement; always end with ‘?’ in written German.

  • Wie ist ein Wetter heute?

    Do not use the indefinite article ‘ein’ here; ‘Wetter’ is always used with ‘das’ when you refer to the general weather.

  • Wie sind das Wetter heute?

    Do not replace ‘ist’ with ‘sind’; ‘Wetter’ is singular, so the verb must be singular.

↔Alternatives

  • Wie ist das Wetter momentan?

    How is the weather at the moment?

  • Wie sieht das Wetter aus?

    What does the weather look like?

  • Wie ist das Wetter heute bei dir?

    How’s the weather today where you are?

de

Cultural Tip

Talking about the weather is a classic German ice‑breaker. Germans often comment on the weather before moving to other topics, especially in the north where conditions change quickly. Keep the tone neutral; avoid overly dramatic adjectives unless you really feel the weather is extreme.