Italian Phrase
Che tempo fa oggi?
Meaning
Literally, 'What weather does it make today?' – the everyday Italian way to ask 'What's the weather like today?'. It is a neutral, conversational question used in both informal and semi‑formal settings.
When to use
Use this phrase when you start a casual conversation, when you need to decide what to wear, or when you’re planning an outdoor activity. It works equally well with friends, colleagues, or strangers you meet on the street.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Chetempofaoggi?
Che (interrogative adjective)
Used before a noun to ask 'what' or 'which', it agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
tempo (noun)
Means 'weather' in this context; it is masculine singular, so the article is omitted in the question.
fa (fare, 3rd person singular)
The verb fare is used idiomatically to describe weather conditions, literally 'it makes'.
oggi (adverb of time)
Means 'today' and is placed at the end of the question for natural rhythm.
🗨In Conversation
Che tempo fa oggi?
What's the weather like today?
Oggi è soleggiato, ma fa un po' di freddo.
It's sunny today, but a bit chilly.
✕Common Mistakes
Cosa tempo fa oggi?
"Cosa" is used for objects, not for the idiomatic weather expression.
Che tempo fa' oggi?
The verb should stay in the 3rd person singular present; the imperative "fa'" changes the meaning.
Che tempo è oggi?
When asking about weather you use "fa", not "è"; "tempo è" sounds unnatural.
↔Alternatives
Com'è il tempo oggi?
How's the weather today?
Qual è il tempo oggi?
What is the weather today?
Che tempo c'è oggi?
What weather is there today?
Cultural Tip
Talking about the weather is a classic ice‑breaker in Italy. Italians often add a personal comment (e.g., "Sembra che pioverà più tardi") after answering. In the north, people may be more precise about temperature, while in the south the conversation stays more general. Remember that "fa" is always used with weather, never "è" unless you describe a specific condition (e.g., "È nuvoloso").