Summary of "How to Talk Confidently About the Weather | A Coffee Break with Anabel"

Released on July 17, 2025, Coffee Break Spanish offers learners concise and practical lessons to build their Spanish proficiency. In this episode, host Anabel delves into the nuances of discussing the weather in Spanish, addressing common challenges and providing clear, actionable insights.

Introduction

At the outset of the episode (00:48), Anabel welcomes listeners to a mini-lesson focused on one of the most common yet tricky topics for Spanish learners: talking about the weather. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the different verbs used in Spanish compared to English, setting the stage for a comprehensive exploration of weather-related vocabulary and structures.

Using "Hacer" for Temperature and General Weather Conditions

Anabel begins by explaining the primary use of the verb "hacer" when discussing the weather in Spanish. She highlights that "hacer" is employed when referring to temperature and general weather conditions.

• Temperature Expressions:
  Anabel states, “If we are talking about temperature, then we are going to be using hacer” (02:10).
  Example:

  • Hoy hace calor, porque hace treinta y seis grados.
    (Today it's hot because it's 36 degrees.)

• Windy Conditions:
  Addressing potential confusion, Anabel clarifies that even when describing wind, "hacer" remains the correct verb.

  • Hace viento.
    (It's windy.)
    She asserts, “hacer for temperature… that's why it's windy also uses hacer” (04:30), reinforcing the consistency in verb usage.

Using "Estar" for Sky Appearance

Transitioning to the verb "estar," Anabel explains its specific application in describing the appearance of the sky.

• Cloudy:

  • Está nublado.
    (It's cloudy.)

• Clear Sky:

  • Está despejado.
    (It's clear.)

• Sunny:

  • Está soleado (commonly used)
    • However, she notes, “the preferred option in Spain is hace sol. However, both are correct” (05:45), providing regional variations for learners to be aware of.

Anabel emphasizes, “estar is used to talk about the sky appearance” (05:10), distinguishing it from "hacer."

Weather-Specific Verbs

Expanding the vocabulary, Anabel introduces essential weather verbs, drawing parallels to their English counterparts.

• To Rain:

  • Está lloviendo.
    (It is raining.)

• To Snow:

  • Va a nevar.
    (It's going to snow.)

• To Hail:

  • Va a granizar.
    (It's going to hail.)

She demonstrates conjugation in context:

• Está lloviendo y mañana va a nevar.
  (It is raining and tomorrow it's going to snow.) (06:30).

The Phrase "Hace Tiempo"

Anabel introduces the expression "hace tiempo" to describe the overall condition of the weather, whether it's good or bad.

• Describing Weather Quality:
  • Hace muy buen tiempo.
    (It's very good weather.)
  • Hace mal tiempo.
    (It's bad weather.)

She explains, “hace plus tiempo and that tiempo as weather, not time” (07:20), clarifying its usage beyond temporal contexts.

Recap and Practical Application

Before concluding, Anabel recaps the key points to reinforce learning:

1. "Hacer" is used for temperature and general weather conditions.
2. "Estar" describes the sky's appearance.
3. Weather verbs like llover, nevar, and granizar are essential for specific conditions.
4. "Hace tiempo" helps describe the overall quality of the weather.

She then engages listeners by prompting them to describe the current weather in their location:
“¿Qué tiempo hace hoy allí? Aquí la verdad es que está un poco nublado. Pero a mí me gusta porque no hace mucho frío.*” (08:20)
(How is the weather today there? Here, the truth is it's a bit cloudy. But I like it because it's not too cold.)

Conclusion

Anabel wraps up the lesson by encouraging listeners to subscribe for more content and to sign up for the newsletter to receive regular mini-lessons directly in their inbox. She leaves listeners with a motivational note:
"Espero que hayan disfrutado el episodio de hoy. Mucho ánimo como siempre y hasta la próxima. Adiós."
(I hope you have enjoyed today's episode. Much encouragement as always and until next time. Goodbye.) (08:50)

Key Takeaways

• Verbs Matter: Understanding when to use "hacer" versus "estar" is crucial for accurate weather descriptions in Spanish.
• Expand Vocabulary: Familiarize yourself with weather-specific verbs to express various conditions effectively.
• Practice Makes Perfect: Regularly describe the weather in your locale using the structures learned to build confidence and fluency.

Notable Quotes:

• “If we are talking about temperature, then we are going to be using hacer.” — Anabel (02:10)
• “Está nublado.” (It's cloudy) — Anabel (05:00)
• “Hace muy buen tiempo.” (It's very good weather.) — Anabel (07:30)
• “Espero que hayan disfrutado el episodio de hoy.” (I hope you have enjoyed today's episode.) — Anabel (08:50)

By focusing on these foundational aspects of weather-related Spanish, Anabel equips learners with the tools to confidently discuss one of the most ubiquitous topics in everyday conversation.