Spanish Phrase
¿Va a llover hoy?
Meaning
This question asks whether it is going to rain later today. It is a common way to check the weather forecast in casual conversation.
When to use
Use it when you are planning outdoor activities, commuting, or simply making small talk about the weather. It works in both informal and semi‑formal settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Vaalloverhoy?
Ir a + infinitivo
The construction 'ir a + infinitive' expresses a near future action, similar to 'going to' in English.
Ir (present tense)
Here 'va' is the third‑person singular present of 'ir', used because the subject is the impersonal 'it' that will rain.
Llover (impersonal verb)
Llover is an impersonal verb; it never has a personal subject, so we use the third‑person form of 'ir' regardless of who is speaking.
Hoy (adverb of time)
Hoy means 'today' and is placed at the end of the sentence for emphasis on the time frame.
🗨In Conversation
¿Va a llover hoy?
Is it going to rain today?
No lo creo, el pronóstico dice que estará soleado.
I don’t think so, the forecast says it will be sunny.
✕Common Mistakes
¿Vas a llover hoy?
The verb must be in third‑person singular (va) because the subject is the impersonal 'it' that will rain.
¿Lloverá hoy?
While grammatically correct, using the simple future can sound more formal; the periphrastic 'va a llover' is more common in everyday speech.
Va a llover hoy?
Don't forget the opening and closing question marks in Spanish.
↔Alternatives
¿Lloverá hoy?
Will it rain today?
¿Crees que va a llover?
Do you think it’s going to rain?
¿Qué tiempo hará hoy?
What will the weather be like 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 temperature (e.g., 'Hace mucho calor') after asking about rain. Remember that 'llover' is impersonal, so you never say 'Yo lluevo' or 'Tú llueves'.