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PhrasesTalking About WeatherDicembre è grigio e umido, mi pesa.
B2informal

Dicembre è grigio e umido, mi pesa.

December is grey and damp, it weighs on me.

Pronunciation

'Pesa' — PE-za. From 'pesare' (to weigh). Short, expressive. 'Umido' — U-mi-do, stress on the first syllable.

When to use it

Use to express the psychological weight of grey winter weather — particularly in northern Italy where December can be relentlessly grey and damp without even providing the consolation of snow.

What it means

'Mi pesa' (it weighs on me) is an idiomatic expression using 'pesare' (to weigh) figuratively — the grey weather has emotional heaviness. 'Grigio e umido' (grey and damp) captures the specific quality of Italian winter in the north.

Variations

Il cielo grigio mi deprime.

The grey sky depresses me.

Direct statement of emotional impact — 'deprimere' is used normally for seasonal sadness

Ho bisogno del sole per stare bene.

I need sunshine to feel well.

Links weather to wellbeing — Italians are sensitive to this connection

Non vedo l'ora che finisca l'inverno.

I can't wait for winter to end.

'Non vedere l'ora' (not to see the hour) = can't wait. Very common idiomatic expression.

Mini Dialogue

— Come stai? — Mah, Dicembre è grigio e umido, mi pesa. — Capisco. Anche a me manca il sole. — Meno male che c'è il Natale, almeno le luci aiutano.

— How are you? — Hmm, December is grey and damp, it weighs on me. — I understand. I miss the sun too. — Thank goodness there's Christmas, at least the lights help.

Cultural Note

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is recognised in Italy, where it's called 'depressione stagionale' or 'blues invernale'. Christmas lights ('luci natalizie') in Italian cities are partly a civic response to winter darkness — elaborately decorated streets from late November.