Lesson 12.3: Talking About Extreme Weather – Storms, Heatwaves, and More ⛈️🔥❄️ #
In Italy, the weather isn’t just hot or cold—sometimes it’s apocalyptic. You’ll hear Italians describe a bit of wind as a tempesta (storm) or a summer day as un forno (an oven). Now it’s your turn to sound dramatic!
Extreme Weather Vocabulary #
| Italian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| La tempesta | The storm | lah tehm-PEHS-tah |
| L’ondata di caldo | The heatwave | lohn-DAH-tah dee KAHL-doh |
| Il temporale | The thunderstorm | eel tehm-poh-RAH-leh |
| Il vento forte | Strong wind | eel VEHN-toh FOR-teh |
| La grandine | The hail | lah GRAHN-dee-neh |
| Il ghiaccio | The ice | eel GYAH-choh |
| Il diluvio | The downpour | eel dee-LOO-vyoh |
| La siccità | The drought | lah seek-chee-TAH |
How to Complain About Extreme Weather (Like a True Italian) #
🔥 When It’s Too Hot #
- Fa un caldo infernale! (It’s hellishly hot!)
- Sto sciogliendomi! (I’m melting!)
- Questo sole è micidiale! (This sun is deadly!)
Geoff: Fa caldo oggi! (It’s hot today!)
Viktor: Geoff, benvenuto in un forno gigante! (Geoff, welcome to a giant oven!)
⛈️ When There’s a Storm #
- C’è un temporale! (There’s a thunderstorm!)
- Sembra la fine del mondo! (It looks like the end of the world!)
- Mamma mia, che fulmini! (Oh my, what lightning!)
Geoff: Sta piovendo molto. (It’s raining a lot.)
Viktor: Sta diluviando! Costruisco un’arca! (It’s pouring! I’m building an ark!)
❄️ When It’s Freezing Cold #
- Fa un freddo polare! (It’s polar cold!)
- Mi si congelano le dita! (My fingers are freezing!)
- Ho bisogno di una cioccolata calda subito! (I need a hot chocolate right now!)
Geoff: Fa freddo oggi. (It’s cold today.)
Viktor: Freddo?! Geoff, siamo nel Polo Nord! (Cold?! Geoff, we’re in the North Pole!)
How to Ask About Extreme Weather #
If you want to chat (or complain) about the weather, here are some useful questions:
- Fa molto caldo oggi? (Is it very hot today?)
- Ci sarà un temporale domani? (Will there be a thunderstorm tomorrow?)
- Hai mai visto la neve in Sicilia? (Have you ever seen snow in Sicily?)
Geoff: Hai mai visto una tempesta di sabbia in Italia? (Have you ever seen a sandstorm in Italy?)
Viktor: No, ma con questo caldo, forse arriverà presto! (No, but with this heat, it might come soon!)
Practice Time! #
Now, test your knowledge with Exercise 12.3!
👉 Exercise 12.3: Describing Extreme Weather
⛈️🔥❄️ Buona fortuna e non scioglierti sotto il sole! 🇮🇹🎉