Spanish Phrase
¿Cuándo se despeja?
Meaning
The question asks for the time when the weather will become clear—when clouds, fog, or rain will disappear. It is commonly used when you are waiting for sunshine or better visibility.
When to use
Use this phrase while looking out a window, checking a forecast, or chatting with friends about plans that depend on good weather. It works for both literal weather (clouds, rain) and figurative situations (e.g., 'when will the confusion clear up?').
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Cuándosedespeja?
¿Cuándo?
Interrogative adverb of time, always written with an opening and closing question mark and an accent on the 'á'.
se (pronombre reflexivo)
In this impersonal construction, 'se' does not refer to a person; it turns the verb into a weather‑related statement like 'it clears'.
despeja (presente de indicativo)
Third‑person singular present of 'despejar' meaning 'to clear (up)'. The subject is implicit (the sky, the weather).
Inversión opcional
Because the sentence begins with an interrogative word, the verb follows directly; no extra subject‑verb inversion is needed.
🗨In Conversation
¿Cuándo se despeja?
When does it clear up?
Según el pronóstico, se despeja en una hora.
According to the forecast, it clears up in an hour.
✕Common Mistakes
Cuando se despeja?
Missing accent changes the meaning to the conjunction 'when' (as in 'cuando llegue') and is incorrect in a direct question.
¿Cuándo despeja?
Leaving out the reflexive pronoun 'se' turns the verb into a personal action, which sounds odd for weather.
¿Cuándo se despejará?
Future tense is unnecessary unless you explicitly want to ask about a future event; the present is the standard for weather forecasts.
↔Alternatives
¿Cuándo va a despejar?
When is it going to clear up?
¿En cuánto tiempo se despeja?
In how much time will it clear up?
¿Cuándo dejará de llover?
When will it stop raining?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries people talk about the weather using impersonal verbs with 'se' (e.g., 'se nubla', 'se ventosa'). In Mexico you might also hear '¿Cuándo se quita la lluvia?' while in Spain '¿Cuándo se despeja?' is the most natural. Avoid using 'aclarar' for weather—it is reserved for clarifying information, not clouds.