A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "It's raining" in French
The standard French phrase for 'it's raining,' perfect for any weather-related chat.
Il pleut.
eel PLUHneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this when you look outside and see rain falling. It's a common observation to make when meeting someone, perhaps as you're both heading inside.
Alternatives
- Il drache !Used for very heavy rain, like a downpour.
- Il pleuviote.Used for a light drizzle or very fine rain.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing the 't' in 'pleut'
The final 't' in 'pleut' is silent; only say 'pluh'.
Using 'c'est' instead of 'il'
For weather, French always uses 'il' (like 'il pleut') not 'c'est'.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
how to say it is raining heavily in french
For heavy rain, you can say 'Il pleut des cordes' (it's raining ropes) or 'Il drache !' for a downpour.
what is the difference between il pleut and il pleuviote
'Il pleut' is the general term for raining. 'Il pleuviote' specifically means it's drizzling or raining very lightly.
how to respond if someone says il pleut
You can agree by saying 'Oui, il pleut.' or add a comment like 'Dommage !' (What a shame!) if you had outdoor plans.
