Learning French: ten expressions to use during hot weather

Sunshine and warm weather is forecast across France in the coming days, which means now is the time to learn some fun French expressions for talking about heatwaves (canicules). 

Whether sunbathing, swimming, or sweating, we look at ten examples of phrases you can use to describe the different aspects of hot weather.

Read also: Five things they do not tell you about summertime in France

1. Soleil de plomb

Conveying the meaning of 'the sun is as heavy as lead', this phrase is used when it is really, really hot. The English equivalent might be ‘blazing sun’.

2. Cagnard

This is a colloquial term from the south of France for a sunny spot. You often hear it said that someone or something is en plein cagnard, meaning they are in direct sun.

3. Ça tape

This means that the heat is very strong – it literally hits you.

4. Être en nage

This means to be very sweaty. The expression used to be être à nage but has evolved to en nage – referring to the fact that swimming, obviously, makes you wet.

5. Attraper un coup de soleil

This can be used with attraper un coup de soleil (to catch) or prendre un coup de soleil (to take), and refers to getting sunburnt.

The word coup can mean many things, including a knock, a punch or a blow, or alternatively a trick, a deal or a drink.

Read also: 10 common French expressions involving ‘coup’

6. Se (faire) dorer la pilule

Another expression to mean to stay in the sun in order to tan.

The original expression is dorer la pilule which meant to sugar the pill.

The expression evolved in the 20th Century with a meaning of 'to believe in something that does not exist'.

The meaning changed again to indicate 'basking in the sun' during the eighties. Some claim that it is a mix between dorer la pilule and se dorer au soleil (to tan).

7. L’été indien

Just as in English, this expression meaning 'Indian summer' is used to describe a warm spell of weather in autumn, especially in October and November.

8. Piquer une tête

In very hot weather, you are very likely to want to 'piquer une tête' - which means 'take a dip' or to dive into the water. It is important to note that it is always 'piquer UNE tête' and never 'piquer MA tête'.

9. Faire un barbeuc

Another popular hot weather activity, for some, is to faire un barbeuc, or to have a barbecue. Barbeuc is slang for barbecue, which is the same in French as in English.

10. Suer à grosses gouttes

Being en suer means that you are sweating. This expression literally refers to having huge beads of sweat, and is similar to the English saying: to be sweating buckets. 

Read also: How to keep your house cool in the high heat of the French summer