Weather and Seasons in Greek: Μελτέμι and Καύσωνας
Greek weather vocabulary, phrases for small talk, the four seasons, and regional terms like the meltemi wind and heatwave (kavsonas).
The Greek climate shapes daily life: hot, dry summers, mild wet winters and winds that decide whether ferries sail. Weather talk is easy to learn.
Asking about the weather
- Τι καιρό κάνει; — What's the weather like?
- Πώς είναι ο καιρός; — How's the weather?
- Τι καιρό θα κάνει αύριο; — What will the weather be like tomorrow?
- Η πρόγνωση του καιρού — the weather forecast
Weather phrases
- Κάνει ζέστη. — It's hot.
- Κάνει κρύο. — It's cold.
- Κάνει δροσιά. — It's cool (pleasantly).
- Βρέχει. — It's raining.
- Χιονίζει. — It's snowing.
- Φυσάει. — It's windy.
- Έχει ήλιο. — It's sunny.
- Έχει σύννεφα. — It's cloudy.
- Έχει ομίχλη. — It's foggy.
- Έχει καταιγίδα. — There's a storm.
- Είναι υγρασία. — It's humid.
Weather nouns
- ο καιρός — weather
- ο ήλιος — sun
- η βροχή — rain
- το χιόνι — snow
- ο αέρας / ο άνεμος — wind
- το σύννεφο — cloud
- η καταιγίδα — storm
- η βροντή / η αστραπή — thunder / lightning
- η ομίχλη — fog
- το χαλάζι — hail
- ο πάγος — ice
- η ζέστη — heat
- το κρύο — cold
- η θερμοκρασία — temperature
- ο καύσωνας — heatwave
- ο κεραυνός — thunderbolt
Temperature
Greece uses Celsius: Είναι τριάντα οκτώ βαθμούς. — It's 38 degrees. Κάνει μείον πέντε. — It's minus five.
Seasons
- η άνοιξη — spring
- το καλοκαίρι — summer
- το φθινόπωρο — autumn
- ο χειμώνας — winter
Use την άνοιξη, το καλοκαίρι, το φθινόπωρο, το χειμώνα for "in spring", etc.
The meltemi
The μελτέμι is a strong, dry northerly wind that blows across the Aegean in summer, especially in July and August. It cools the heat but can be very strong, causing rough seas and disrupting ferry schedules. Many islands are known for it.
Heatwaves
Summers can bring intense heat, called καύσωνας. Advice in Greek includes: Πίνετε πολύ νερό. (Drink lots of water.) Αποφύγετε τον ήλιο το μεσημέρι. (Avoid the sun at midday.)
Winter
Winters are mild on the coasts but can bring snow to mountains and the north. Athens rarely sees heavy snow, though it does occasionally. Το Πήλιο and τα Γιάννενα are popular winter destinations.
Clothes for weather
- η ομπρέλα — umbrella
- το αδιάβροχο — raincoat
- το καπέλο — hat
- τα γυαλιά ηλίου — sunglasses
- το αντηλιακό — sun cream
- το μπουφάν — jacket
- το κασκόλ — scarf
Small talk
- Τι ζέστη! — What heat!
- Ωραίος καιρός σήμερα, έτσι; — Lovely weather today, isn't it?
- Θα βρέξει. — It's going to rain.
- Ευτυχώς που φυσάει. — Luckily there's a breeze.
Learning tips
- Use κάνει for temperature (κάνει ζέστη).
- Use έχει for things present (έχει σύννεφα).
- Learn the verbs βρέχει, χιονίζει, φυσάει.
Common mistakes
- Saying είναι ζέστη instead of κάνει ζέστη.
- Forgetting the article with seasons.
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Offline English–Greek dictionary with meanings in proper Greek script
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