Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching German grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Es ist bewölkt.
Why do we use "es" in this sentence?
Just like in English, German uses an impersonal es (it) as a placeholder subject when talking about the weather. Since the weather isn't a specific person or object, es steps in to give the verb ist a subject.
Is bewölkt related to the German word for cloud?
Yes! The root word is die Wolke (the cloud). Adding the be- prefix and -t ending turns the noun into the adjective we use here for cloudy or overcast.
Could I also say Das Wetter ist bewölkt?
People will understand you, but Es ist bewölkt is much more common and natural. This matches how we usually say "It is cloudy" in English rather than "The weather is cloudy."
How does this compare to using Es gibt (There is/are) for weather?
You can use Es gibt to talk about the weather, but it requires a noun. For example, you could say Es gibt Wolken (There are clouds). In our sentence, bewölkt is an adjective, so we use Es ist (It is) instead.