Spanish Phrase
¿Qué tiempo hace hoy?
Meaning
Literally, 'What weather does it make today?' It is the standard way to ask someone about the current weather conditions.
When to use
Use this phrase when you start a casual conversation, meet someone outdoors, or need to plan activities for the day. It works in both formal and informal settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Quétiempohacehoy?
¿Qué (interrogative)
Used to ask 'what' or 'which' in a question; it carries an accent on the e.
tiempo (noun)
Means both 'time' and 'weather'; in this context it refers to the weather.
hace (verb hacer)
Third‑person singular present of hacer; with weather it means 'it makes' → 'the weather is'.
hoy (adverb)
Means 'today' and is placed at the end of the question for natural flow.
🗨In Conversation
¿Qué tiempo hace hoy?
What's the weather like today?
Hace sol y unos 25 grados, perfecto para ir a la playa.
It's sunny and about 25 degrees, perfect for going to the beach.
✕Common Mistakes
¿Qué tiempo está hoy?
The verb 'estar' is not used with weather; use 'hace' instead.
¿Qué clima hace hoy?
While 'clima' is correct, pairing it with 'hace' sounds unnatural; say '¿Cómo está el clima hoy?'
Que tiempo hace hoy?
Do not drop the accent on 'qué'; without it the meaning changes.
↔Alternatives
¿Cómo está el clima hoy?
How's the climate today?
¿Qué clima hace hoy?
What’s the weather today?
¿Qué tiempo hay hoy?
What weather is there today?
Cultural Tip
Talking about the weather is a universal ice‑breaker in Spanish‑speaking countries. In many regions, especially in Spain, people often add a comment about the season (e.g., '¡Qué calor de agosto!') to make the exchange more lively. Remember that "tiempo" can also mean "time," so context is key.