SpeeekDownload on the App Store
Back to Weather Talk

Italian Phrase

Sta piovendo forte fuori?

/sta ˈpjoveːndo ˈfɔrte ˈfwɔri/
Meaning"Is it raining heavily outside?"
💡

Meaning

The sentence asks whether it is raining heavily outside. It combines the progressive construction ‘sta + gerund’ with the intensity adverb ‘forte’ and the location adverb ‘fuori’. It is a typical way to check the weather before stepping out.

🎯

When to use

Use this question in casual conversation when you want to know if you need an umbrella or a raincoat, before leaving the house, or when you hear the sound of rain and want confirmation.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Stapiovendofortefuori?

1

Progressive auxiliary (sta)

‘Sta’ is the third‑person singular of ‘stare’, used with a gerund to form the present progressive (it is raining).

2

Gerund of ‘piovere’ (piovendo)

‘Piovendo’ is the gerund of the verb ‘piovere’ (to rain) and follows ‘stare’ to indicate an ongoing action.

3

Adverb of intensity (forte)

‘Forte’ works as an adverb meaning ‘strongly, heavily’ when placed after the verb.

4

Adverb of place (fuori)

‘Fuori’ means ‘outside’ and is placed at the end of the sentence to specify location.

🗨In Conversation

A

Sta piovendo forte fuori?

Is it raining heavily outside?

Sì, porta l'ombrello!

Yes, take an umbrella!

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • È piovendo forte fuori?

    ‘Essere’ is not used with ‘piovere’; the correct progressive auxiliary is ‘stare’.

  • Piove forte fuori?

    Without ‘sta’, the sentence loses the progressive nuance and sounds less natural.

  • Sta forte piovendo fuori?

    Adverbs of intensity normally follow the verb, not precede it.

↔Alternatives

  • Piove tanto fuori?

    Is it raining a lot outside?

  • C'è un temporale fuori?

    Is there a storm outside?

  • Sta piovendo molto fuori?

    Is it raining a lot outside?

it

Cultural Tip

Talking about the weather is a staple of Italian small talk. Italians often use ‘forte’ as an adverb to intensify rain, wind, or even emotions. In the north, you might hear ‘sta piovendo a dirotto’ (raining like crazy), while in the south people may simply say ‘piove a dirotto’ without the progressive ‘sta’. Remember that ‘forte’ here is not an adjective describing rain, but an adverb modifying the verb.