Seasons in Spanish: Journey through Four Times of Year

Remember when you had to learn season names in English as a kid? Now, when you’re acquiring a new language, it’s time to master them again and pick up new words. Introduce yourself to seasons in Spanish, and you’ll be able to talk about the weather, plan trips, or join in cultural events. As you delve more into this topic, you’ll enrich your vocabulary and increase your confidence in your language skills.

Spanish Names of the Seasons of the Year

In Spanish, natives refer to a season as “la estacion del año” [la ɛstaˈsjõn dɛl ˈaɲo]. Each has its own distinct flavor and plays a vital role in everyday interactions and cultural activities throughout Spanish-speaking countries.

Spring (Primavera)

This season signifies that nature shows off after deep winter sleep. The weather warms up, flowers bloom, and rain falls in many regions. To refer to spring in Spanish, say primavera [pɾimaˈβeɾa]. Notice that [ɾ] sounds like a flap, comparable to a rapid [d] sound. The [β] is a soft [b].

Summer (Verano)

This hot season of the year means it’s time for vacation. Spain is a perfect place to explore in summer. You can choose from numerous ways to enjoy the sunny weather there, like sipping a cold drink in Barcelona, relishing refreshing Peruvian ceviche, etc. Learn to name this season in Spanish to create not just happy memories but also a lasting educational benefit. It’s easy – verano [βeˈɾano].

Autumn (Otoño)

There goes the season of cooler temperatures and falling leaves. It’s harvest time in many Spanish-speaking nations. People celebrate this time of year with festivals highlighting local food and traditions. To refer to autumn in Spanish, use the otoño [oˈtoɲo]. Pay attention to pronunciation: a palatal nasal sound [ɲ] is similar to “ny” in “canyon.”

Winter (Invierno)

When you think of Spain, you think of summertime sunny beaches and friendly people. Winter in this country also has many delights to offer. You can enjoy the best of winter, with lots of sunlight, milder temperatures, and less rain than in much of Europe. 

After learning more about winter weather in Spanish-speaking countries, you’ll want to experience those delights. So, to speak about winter in Spanish, add invierno [ĩmˈbjeɾno] to your vocabulary range.

Weather Descriptions for Each Season

The weather in Spanish-speaking countries can vary a lot. To elevate your language skills and be able to speak about the seasons of the year in Spanish in a more detailed manner, learn common adjectives that are used with weather descriptions.

Spring Weather

Spring is the perfect time of the year to relish the awakening of nature. The following Spanish adjectives will be helpful to describe spring:

• cálido [ˈka.li.ðo] – warm;
• fresco [ˈfɾesko] – cool;
• colorido [koloɾiˈðo] – colorful/ vivid;
• suave [ˈswabe] – mild.

Remember that in Spanish, you need to change the ending of adjectives o/a to suit the gender of the person/thing you’re talking about. For instance:

El aire de la primavera es fresco. [el ˈaiɾe de la pɾimaˈβeɾa es ˈfɾesko] – The spring air is cool.

La brisa de la primavera es fresca. [la ˈbɾisa de la pɾimaˈβeɾa es ˈfɾeska] – The spring breeze is cool.

Summer Weather

When going on your summer vacation to Spain, you can continue your learning journey by getting to know how to describe that beautiful weather. You can do this by memorizing the following adjectives:

• caluroso [ka.luˈɾo.so] – hot;
• húmedo [ˈumeðo] – humid;
• soleado [so.leˈa.ðo] – sunny;

Capture the beauty of Spanish summer like a pro. With these modifiers, you’ll be ready to describe the summer weather in Spanish-speaking countries. 

Autumn Weather

As the colorful summer fades into fall, the weather gradually changes. To fully express the splendor of the fall season in Spanish, use the following adjectives:

• lluvioso [ʝuˈβjoso] – rainy;
• dorado [doˈɾaðo] – golden;
• ventoso [benˈtoso] – windy.

The phrases with these words will help you eloquently explain the varied features of autumn weather in Spanish. From chilly winds and golden foliage to rainy days and melancholy scenery, you’ll be able to deliver the right message to your interlocutor.

Winter Weather

Christmas and New Year are important winter celebrations in Spanish-speaking countries. The weather can vary during this time of the year:

• frío [ˈfɾi.o] – cold;
• nevado [neˈβaðo] – snowy;
• gris [ɡɾis] – gray;
• nublado [nuˈβlaðo] – cloudy.

Be ready to speak about winter weather in Spanish-speaking countries. Tell about the unique winter atmosphere using these common adjectives confidently.

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Practical Vocabulary and Phrases about Spanish Seasons

To diversify your speech when engaging in Spanish conversations, use common phrases that are related to the weather. The following recommendations will help enrich your vocabulary and learn more about Spanish culture.

Common Weather Phrases

The weather fluctuates from time to time, bringing new conditions. You can talk about common changes in the weather by picking up some common phrases.

• Hace frío. [ˈase ˈfɾi.o] – It’s cold.
• Está lloviendo. [esˈta ʝoˈβjendo] – It’s raining.
• Hace calor. [ˈase kaˈloɾ] – It’s hot.
• Está nublado. [esˈta nuˈβlaðo] – It’s cloudy.

Note: remember about differences between “hace” and “está” when talking about weather. Use “hace” for more general descriptions or intensity of weather (cold, hot, etc.). On the other hand, “está” helps specify current conditions or actions (raining, cloudy, etc.).

Cultural Events Related to Seasons

Hispanic people celebrate pretty much the same list of prominent dates as those in English-speaking countries. However, there are also unique events that reflect their distinct Spanish history and traditions.

• Semana Santa [seˈmana ˈsanta] – Holy Week

It’s a prominent religious celebration in Spain and Latin America. During this event, residents participate in processions, reenactments of Christ’s Passion, and a series of spiritual meditations.

• Día de los Muertos [ˈdi.a ðe los ˈmweɾtos] – Day of the Dead

As you can guess from its name, this Mexican celebration is a traditional event when families remember departed loved ones with many props to retain a spiritual connection. This cultural ritual is also popular in Guatemala, Brazil, Spain, and the United States.

• Navidad [naβiˈðað] – Christmas

This time of the year is all about cheerful songs and festive decorations. Like the entire world, Hispanic people enjoy family get-togethers and special meals.

4 Seasons in Spanish: Conversation Starters and Examples

Practicing your communication skills is an indispensable part of learning Spanish. These basic phrases will help you begin simple dialogues and get to know other people.

¿Cómo está el clima? [ˈkomo esˈta el ˈklima] – How’s the weather?

Me gusta el verano. ¿Y tú? [me ˈɣusta el beˈɾano i tu] – I like summer. What about you?

¿Qué te parece el… (otoño/invierno/primavera/verano)? [ke te paˈɾeθe el …] – What do you think of… (autumn/winter/spring/summer)?

Promova: Learning Spanish Weather Vocabulary

¡Hola! ¿Qué tal? Learn all seasons of the year in Spanish with Promova, a one-stop solution built for eager language students of all ages. The platform’s valuable content offers you everything you need for a complete educational experience. With Promova, you can benefit from the following learning opportunities:

• Enjoy the freedom of self-paced study.
• Start various courses that divide each topic into bite-sized pieces.
• Lessons include visual, audio, and video content for a more realistic learning experience.

The app is available for installing on any device. The free version includes the essential parts of the Spanish language. If you want to access more tools and great material to explore the multifaceted nature of Spanish, sign up for the Premium subscription plan. Learn together with passionate students who share the same goal – hablar con fluidez!

Conclusion

Mastering the names of the four seasons in Spanish is another important building block that enhances your language skills. You open doors for further learning of adjectives and common phrases. Then comes creating sentences and conversations. As you can see, everything starts with simple actions. So, keep on practicing to reach other milestones in your learning journey.