Turkish Weather Vocabulary
Turkey sits at the crossroads of climates, from Mediterranean shores to snowy mountains, and its weather vocabulary is just as diverse. Turkish uses the word hava (weather/air) combined with adjectives for conditions, and the verb yağmak (to fall/pour) for precipitation. This guide covers the essential weather words and patterns you need for daily conversation in Turkish.
Learn from Your Home Screen
Lingo puts new words on your Home Screen with pronunciation and translations — so you learn 30 languages without even opening the app.
Hava + Adjective — Weather Conditions
The most common pattern in Turkish weather expressions is hava + adjective. The word hava means both "weather" and "air," and it acts as the subject of weather sentences.
Weather adjectives in Turkish often use the suffix -lı/-li/-lu/-lü to turn nouns into "having" adjectives: güneş (sun) → güneşli (sunny), bulut (cloud) → bulutlu (cloudy), rüzgar (wind) → rüzgarlı (windy). The suffix follows vowel harmony.
Precipitation — Yağışlar
Turkish uses the verb yağmak (to fall, to pour) for all forms of precipitation. The pattern is [noun] + yağıyor (is falling).
For heavy rain, Turks say "Bardaktan boşanırcasına yağıyor" (it is raining as if pouring from a glass) — the Turkish equivalent of "raining cats and dogs." For a sudden downpour, you might hear "Sağanak yağıyor".
Practice These Words in Lingo Widget
Home screen widgets, daily vocabulary, and 30 languages to explore.
Seasons and Climate — Mevsimler
Turkey's diverse geography means weather varies dramatically by region. Here are the seasonal terms and regional weather words.
Weather Conversation Phrases
Use these phrases for everyday weather talk in Turkish:
- Bugün hava çok güzel! — The weather is so nice today!
- Yağmur yağacak gibi — It looks like it will rain
- Dışarısı çok soğuk — It is very cold outside
- Hava kapalı — The sky is overcast
- Şemsiye al, yağmur yağacak — Take an umbrella, it will rain
- Hava açtı — The weather cleared up
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you ask about the weather in Turkish?
The standard question is Hava nasıl? (How is the weather?) or Bugün hava nasıl? (How is the weather today?). You can also ask Dışarısı soğuk mu? (Is it cold outside?).
What does "hava" mean in Turkish?
Hava means both "weather" and "air" in Turkish. When talking about weather, it functions like "it" in English weather expressions. "Hava sıcak" means "the weather is hot" or simply "it is hot." The word is also used in expressions like "hava almak" (to get fresh air).
How does Turkish express "it is raining"?
Turkish says Yağmur yağıyor, literally "rain is raining/falling." The verb yağmak means to fall/pour and is used for all precipitation: Kar yağıyor (snow is falling = it is snowing). The pattern is [precipitation] + yağıyor.
Does Turkey have diverse weather?
Yes, Turkey has remarkably diverse climates. The Mediterranean coast has hot, dry summers and mild winters. The Black Sea coast is rainy year-round. Central Anatolia has extreme continental weather with hot summers and freezing winters. Eastern Turkey experiences harsh, long winters with heavy snow.
What are some Turkish weather idioms?
Turkish has colorful weather idioms: Gökten dört köşe yağmak (raining four corners from the sky = raining heavily). Havadan sudan konuşmak (to talk about weather and water = to make small talk). Soğuk savaş (cold war) is borrowed but widely used.