pleuvoir
rain
C’est quand de l’eau tombe du ciel sous forme de gouttes.
The French verb "pleuvoir" means "to rain." It is an impersonal verb used almost exclusively in the third person singular form "il pleut" (it rains).
Explanation:
- Pleuvoir describes the action of rain falling from the sky.
- It is always used impersonally, corresponding in English to the phrase "it rains."
Usage:
- Il pleut. → It is raining.
- Il a plu hier. → It rained yesterday.
- Il pleuvra demain. → It will rain tomorrow.
Synonyms and differences:
- There are no exact synonyms that replace the verb "pleuvoir" because of its impersonal form and meaning. However, related terms include:
- "Il drache" (regional/colloquial in Belgium) means heavy rain.
- "Il tonne" literally means "it thunders," used with thunderstorms.
Related terms:
- "Il neige" = It snows (also impersonal like "pleuvoir").
- "Il fait de la pluie" = It is rainy, more descriptive phrase rather than a verb.
Summary: "Pleuvoir" is the standard impersonal French verb meaning "to rain," used primarily as "il pleut," and there are no direct synonyms for this standard weather expression.
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Examples
Il commence à pleuvoir.verb
It is starting to rain.
Il a plu toute la journée.verb
It rained all day.
Demain, il pleuvra peut-être le matin.verb
Tomorrow, it may rain in the morning.
S'il pleut, nous resterons à la maison.verb
If it rains, we will stay at home.
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