Italian Phrase
No, non sta piovendo.
Meaning
Literally, “No, it’s not raining.” The speaker is denying that rain is currently falling, often in response to a question or a comment about the weather.
When to use
Use this sentence when someone asks or assumes that it’s raining and you want to correct them. It works in casual conversation, on the phone, or even in written chat about the weather.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nononstapiovendo
No
A short, emphatic way to say “no” in Italian, often used at the start of a sentence to contradict a previous statement.
non
The standard negation particle placed before the verb; it negates the entire verb phrase that follows.
stare + gerundio (sta piovendo)
The present progressive construction in Italian. ‘Stare’ is conjugated in the present tense and followed by the gerund (‑endo) of the main verb to express an action happening right now.
piovendo
Gerund form of ‘piovere’ (to rain). It always appears with ‘stare’ in progressive contexts; it never stands alone.
🗨In Conversation
Sta piovendo?
Is it raining?
No, non sta piovendo.
No, it’s not raining.
✕Common Mistakes
No, non è piovendo.
The verb ‘piovere’ does not use ‘essere’ for progressive; it must be paired with ‘stare’.
No, non piovendo.
A gerund cannot stand alone; it needs the auxiliary ‘stare’.
No, non sta piove.
Mixing the progressive ‘sta’ with the simple present ‘piove’ is ungrammatical.
↔Alternatives
No, non piove.
No, it isn’t raining.
No, non c’è pioggia.
No, there’s no rain.
No, non sta piovendo ora.
No, it isn’t raining right now.
Cultural Tip
Italians love to talk about the weather, and the progressive form ‘sta piovendo’ is the most natural way to describe rain that’s happening at the moment. In more formal or written Italian you might hear the simple present ‘non piove’, but in everyday speech the progressive sounds more vivid. Remember that ‘piovendo’ never appears without ‘stare’; saying *‘non è piovendo’* is a common error for beginners.