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PhrasesSmall TalkSembra che arrivi il temporale.
B1

Sembra che arrivi il temporale.

It looks like a storm is coming.

Pronunciation

'Temporale' = tem-po-RAH-leh — four syllables. 'Arrivi' = ar-REE-vee — subjunctive of 'arrivare.'

When to use it

Use when clouds are gathering and weather looks threatening. A specific and culturally authentic alternative to generic weather small talk — especially useful in summer when Italian afternoon thunderstorms are common.

What it means

'Sembrare che + congiuntivo' is the standard B1 structure for uncertainty or appearance. 'Arrivi' is the present subjunctive of 'arrivare.' This is an important and elegant Italian grammatical construction widely used in speech.

Variations

Si sta coprendo il cielo.

The sky is clouding over.

'Coprirsi' (to cover itself) — the sky as subject, a beautiful Italian expression.

Che temporale di ieri sera!

What a storm last night!

Exclamatory about a past storm — common summer morning small talk.

Speriamo che il tempo regga fino a stasera.

Let's hope the weather holds until this evening.

'Speriamo che + congiuntivo' — another key B1 structure; 'reggere' means to hold/last.

Mini Dialogue

— Sembra che arrivi il temporale! — Sì, guarda quelle nuvole nere. Prendo l'ombrello. — Buona idea. D'estate in Lombardia è quasi quotidiano. — Almeno rinfrescano! Questo caldo è insopportabile.

— It looks like a storm is coming! — Yes, look at those black clouds. I'll take my umbrella. — Good idea. In summer in Lombardy it's almost daily. — At least they cool things down! This heat is unbearable.

Cultural Note

Northern Italian summers feature spectacular afternoon thunderstorms, particularly around the Po Valley and pre-Alps. Locals track them casually and plan activities around them — a distinctive local meteorological small talk.