Lesson 4 - It's getting hot in here, talk weather to me

... that you will master at the end of this article. Thank us later for impressing even the most blasé Luxies. As always, you'll find flawlessly pronounced recordings of the expressions - while the ones to date were recorded by the wife of a certain senior editor who's a terribly "schlechten Verléirer" (sore loser, be sure to remember this one) at badminton, today they were recorded by none other than our boss. That's right, RTL Today's editors have now started delegating work to senior management. We're moving up in this world, folks.

This April is a bit of an exception to the rule but, let’s face it, Luxembourgish weather is not renowned for being uplifting, so it might be best to start with the fundamentals of describing those discouraging grey days we all know too well. The beauty of this? You can combine two key Luxembourgish skills in one go: chitchatting about the weather... and complaining.

Picture an alternative universe in which you actually take the trash outside instead of waiting for your partner to do it. You arrive outside, garbage bag in hand, and spot your Luxembourgish neighbour as he has also embarked on a similarly heroic quest. You don't look your best (it's quarantine after all) but you are a quick-witted fellow and have heard of a magical way to distract Luxembourgers from your physical appearance: time to talk weather. These might come in handy - and make sure to add a whiny tenor to your voice:

In the table above, you will find the essentials of what is considered to be bad weather in Luxembourg (yes, snow is definitely up there!). With these four expressions, you should be able to describe about three quarters of the year, so feel free to use them and complain about the cold or the rain - you will fit right in.

Good weather (not great though!)

Now that the we have covered describing the typical state of Luxembourgish weather, it is time to turn towards those very selected spring and summer days that give people a chance to enjoy the beautiful landscapes throughout the country, or fill the numerous terraces in the capital’s bars and restaurants to down a cold Humpen. We're being nostalgic here, we know. Don't overuse the more positive expressions - Luxembourgers generally hold back on praising the weather too much.

The table above provides you with the necessary phrases to talk about Luxembourg’s sunny days. But remember, only because the sun is out does not mean there is no more reason to complain. If you want to fit right in, it might be best to consider pointing to the fact how hot it is, before saying that you are actually enjoying the temperature. If you throw in a little “gell?” at the end, you will give your counterpart an opportunity to respond and show you how they really feel about this enormous heat.

Meteorological oddballs 

There's more to Luxembourg's weather than sun, rain, or snow. The country's forests may occasionally be as foggy as the Monday morning hangover after Picadilly weekend and summers can be so damp you start to think you're in Singapore. What are the correct words for these meteorological oddballs? We've got you covered Aalen, kee Stress!