If you are studying English in the UK or are just visiting, you will have discovered that British people love to talk about the weather. The UK’s weather is famous for being unpredictable, so it arrives in conversation a lot when people are making small talk. As a result, you’ll hear English vocabulary for weather again and again. Let’s explore the most common words and phrases!
Vocabulary for Cold Weather
December, January and February is the UK’s winter season, with icy conditions and sometimes snow. The average temperature is between 2 and 7°C (36–45°F), but temperatures often drop to just below 0°C (36°F). It is also common for cold conditions in the other months, especially in the north. Here are some of the words you might hear to describe the cold weather.
Frosty
Cold enough for frost to form
Example:“It was very frosty this morning”
Chilly
A little bit cold, but not too bad
Example: “It’s a bit chilly, you should bring a jacket“
Bitter
Very cold with a sharp wind
Example: “There is a bitter wind today“
Nippy
A fun word for when it’s cold enough to make you shiver.
Example: “Is there a door open? It’s a bit nippy“
Freezing
Extremely cold, below 0°C
Example: “It’s freezing outside“
View this post on Instagram
Vocabulary for Warm Weather
In summer, the average temperature ranges from 9–18°C (48–64° F), reaching around 30°C (86°F) in heatwaves. The UK is not known for its summers but we do experience some very pleasant months between June and September, where parks and beaches become a fantastic place to visit. Here are some of the words you might hear to describe the warm weather.
Sunny
The sun is out and is shining brightly
Example: “You should wear some sunglasses, it’s very sunny out”
Humid / Muggy / Stuffy
When the air is unpleasantly warm
Example: “I can’t breathe very well, it’s very humid today”
Glorious
When the weather is making you very happy
Example: “I can’t wait to finish work today, the weather is glorious”
Tropical
When the weather is so nice it reminds you of a much hotter country
Example: “It’s tropical today, I might buy an ice cream to cool down!”
Boiling / Baking / Roasting
When it is so hot, it feels like you are being cooked
Example: “I’m boiling, can we open a window?”
Vocabulary for Rainy Weather
Rain is common in the UK, but thankfully extreme weather is quite rare. The rainiest month is January, when 17.8 days have more than 1 mm (0.04 in) of rain on average. If you are visiting, make sure to pack some waterproof clothes. Here are some of the words you might hear to describe the rain.
“Drizzling” (verb) or “Drizzle” (noun)
Light, misty rain
Example: “It’s drizzling a bit outside”
Pouring
Heavy, continuous rain
Example: “I want to go out but it’s pouring down”
Spitting
Very light rain, just a few drops here and there
Example: “It’s only spitting a bit today, no need for an umbrella”
Showers
A short burst of rain that can stop as quickly as it starts
Example: “A few showers are expected at the weekend”
Damp
When the air feels wet and cold
Example: “It’s very damp outside today”
Blustery
Windy and rainy at the same time
Example: “It’s very blustery today. My hat fell off”
Learn more about British language & culture
Improve your English in Brighton, London, Manchester, Edinburgh, or York with our friendly team!
Alternatively, here are some more articles you might like:
Alternatively, follow us on Instagram or TikTok to get our helpful tips about English language and life in the UK.