イギリス英語の夏の天気表現｜ネイティブが使う自然なフレーズ集
In British English, there are many ways to talk about summer weather.
Some words are polite and formal. Others are casual or funny.
This post will help you speak naturally about hot, sunny, or uncomfortable weather.
1. Very Hot Weather Words (Extreme Heat)
These words describe very hot weather. Some sound dramatic, but they are very common in British English.
Scorching - very hot, sometimes unpleasant
“It’s absolutely scorching out there.”
(Used in speech and writing)
Boiling - very hot (casual)
“It’s boiling today.”
(British people often exaggerate the heat this way)
Sweltering - uncomfortably hot
“It was sweltering on the bus this morning.”
(Used when it feels sticky, heavy, and too hot)
Baking - hot with strong sun
“The ground was baking after three days of sun.”
(Used more often for land, surfaces, or rooms)
Common Mistake:
“It’s very boiling.” (incorrect)
“It’s boiling.” (correct)
Boiling is already extreme, so don’t use “very” with it.
We can use “absolutely” or “completely” instead, because these are extreme modifiers.
2. Common British Phrases for Hot Weather
These are casual, natural things British people say in summer.
“It’s a scorcher today.”
(It’s extremely hot today - sounds cheerful or dramatic.)
“I’m melting.”
(Said in a funny way when you feel too hot.)
“It’s muggy.”
(It’s hot and humid - sticky and uncomfortable.)
Cultural Note:
In the UK, people love to complain about the weather - especially when it’s hot. These phrases are often said with a smile or a little humour.
3. Sun and Skin
Here are some words to describe how summer weather affects your skin.
Sunburn - red, painful skin from too much sun
“Don’t forget sunscreen or you’ll get sunburn.”
Sun tan - brown skin after being in the sun (can be positive or negative - it depends on personal opinion)
“You’ve got a nice tan.”
“She wants a sun tan before her holiday.”
Tip:
A sun tan is often seen as attractive in Western culture, because it shows that the person has the time and money to travel to other countries.
However, too much sun is dangerous; British people often talk about trying not to burn.
4. Weather Conditions
These words help you describe the feel of the weather.
Shade - a cool, dark area, away from the sun. For example: under a tree or umbrella
“Let’s sit in the shade. It’s too hot.”
Breezy - a light wind that feels nice
“It’s hot, but luckily it’s breezy.”
Overcast - cloudy, grey sky (negative)
“It’s warm but overcast today.”
Heatwave - a time of very hot weather (often lasting a few days)
“We’re having a heatwave this week.”
Cultural Note:
Most homes in the UK don’t have air conditioning, so even 28°C can feel extremely hot.
Words like boiling and melting are common, even if the temperature is not as high as in other countries.
How to Use Intensifiers
Use “very” or “really” with normal adjectives:
“It’s really hot.”
“It’s very warm.”
Use “absolutely”, “completely”, or “totally” with extreme adjectives:
“It’s absolutely boiling.”
“I’m completely melting.”
Common Mistake:
“It’s very scorching.” (incorrect)
“It’s absolutely scorching.” (correct)
Extreme adjectives already mean “very,” so don’t use “very” with them.
Quick Practice
Choose the best word or phrase:
It’s so hot and wet outside - it feels _______.
Let’s sit in the ______. I don’t want sunburn.
It’s ______ today - I can’t stop sweating.
“You look brown - did you get a ______ on holiday?”
It’s not sunny. The sky is grey and ______.
Final Thoughts
Summer in the UK might not always be tropical, but when it gets hot, people love to talk about it.
By using natural British weather expressions, you’ll sound more fluent and friendly.
Try using some of these words next time the sun is shining.
Answers:
muggy
shade
sweltering
tan
overcast