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WEATHER

Ten essential phrases to discuss the weather like a true Spaniard

Talking about the weather is a national pastime in Spain. Here are ten phrases to help you do it like a local.

Published: 21 January 2020 15:46 CET
Updated: 9 January 2021 09:46 CET
Ten essential phrases to discuss the weather like a true Spaniard
Photo: AFP

Whether it is raining cats and dogs, blowing a gale, or you are sweating like a pig in a sudden hot snap, Spain has its own set of phrases that will help you describe exactly how you feel, whatever the temperature.

Here is a guide to help you sound like a local whatever the weather, whether you are being battered by winds in Galicia, freezing like a dog in the mountains of Asturias, or looking for your donkey in foggy Andalusia.

And as you are gasping for some ice cold water in scorching Andalusia or seeking an air-conditioned refuge in sweaty Madrid, the phrases for use in hot weather should help you get your point across.

¡Me achicharro!: It's scorching


Photo: AFP

 
¡Llueve a cántaros!: It's raining cats and dogs

 

¡Están cayendo chuzos de punta!: It's pouring down.


Photos: AFP

¡Hace un frío que pela!: It's bloody cold! (Or 'damn cold' if you are used to American English!)


Photo: AFP

 

¡Me aso!: I'm roasting


Photo: AFP

¡Qué horno!: It's like an oven out there!


Photo: AFP¡

No se ve tres en un burro!: It's really foggy (I can't see three people on a donkey)

 

¡Hace un sol de justicia!: It's as hot as hell!


Photo: amaviael/Depositphotos


¡Estoy pajarito!: I'm freezing to death!


Photo: AFP

¡Vamos a echar a volar!: It's windy. Lets go flying!


Jorge Miente / Flickr

Phrases contributed by Pilar González Manjavacas from the Tilde Spanish language school in Madrid 

READ ALSO:  Ten Spanish slang phrases you never learn at school

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SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY

Spanish Expression of the Day: En el quinto pino

What on earth do Spaniards mean when they say they're 'in the fifth pine tree'?

Published: 18 September 2024 10:25 CEST
Spanish Expression of the Day: En el quinto pino

Spanish is a language full of rich and historical idioms. Often they can seem (to non-native speakers at least) completely random or unrelated to the point or conversation at hand, but learning a few is a good way to deepen your understanding and even show off to some Spaniards.

Showing that you’ve taken the time to learn a few colloquial phrases, of which The Local has explained loads and you can find them all here, will really endear you to locals and also help your comprehension skills. As is often the case in language learning, once you’ve learned a new word or phrase you’ll suddenly start hearing it everywhere you go.

On this occasion we’re looking at the expression en el quinto pino.

First, some translations. Literally speaking ‘en el quinto pino‘ means in/at the fifth pine or pine tree, but it’s actually colloquial phrase Spaniards use to mean that something is ‘far away’ or ‘miles away’. 

It could also be translated as ‘in the middle of nowhere’ or ‘out in the sticks’ and is generally used to mean somewhere physically far away from where you are and difficult to get to.

The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) defines quinto pino as ‘a very distant place’ or a place ‘very far away’.

There are other colloquial ways of saying this, including en el quinto coño (in the fifth c*nt, it sounds terrible but the Spanish C-word isn’t as bad as in English) and a tomar por culo (to be taken up the bum), but these as you can imagine are pretty rude, even though they are used a lot. We obviously recommend that you either say muy lejos (very far) or en el quinto pino.

So, what’s the history and etymology behind the expression en el quinto pino? Is it something to do with being lost in the woods, or having to travel through a forest to get somewhere far away?

Not quite. The origin comes from Madrid during the reign of Felipe V in the 18th century. He decided to plant five large pine trees in the city, the last of which was located on the outskirts of the capital.

This point soon became known as a meeting place for lovers, and this is how the expression ‘irse al quinto pino’ first became popular, referring to the specific location in Madrid.

With time it slowly changed in usage and eventually ended up meaning ‘far away’ in a more general way that could be in Spain or beyond.

 
Examples:
 
Pedro, no podemos volver andando esta noche. La casa está en el quinto pino.
 
Pedro, we can’t walk back tonight. The house is in the middle of nowhere.
 

Tengo que ir a una reunión esta tarde y está en el quinto pino.

I’ve got to go to a meeting this afternoon and it’s miles away.

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