Learn Hardcore French: Il fait chaud ici.

In French, il fait is a set expression used to describe the weather or conditions such as temperature. While c’est can mean it is, when talking specifically about weather conditions like heat, cold, or wind, French speakers use il fait.

Does “il” refer to a person here?

No, il in il fait chaud is an impersonal subject that does not refer to a specific person or thing. It’s just a grammatical structure used to talk about weather or environmental conditions.

Why do we use “fait,” which usually means “makes,” when talking about the weather?

Although faire can mean to make or to do, in weather expressions, il fait takes on a special idiomatic meaning. It’s part of an expression that means it is (hot/cold/etc.); it doesn’t literally translate to it makes in this context.

What does “ici” mean, and can it be replaced with “là”?

Ici means here, referring to the immediate location. You could say Il fait chaud là (It’s hot there) if you’re talking about a spot farther away. However, the meaning changes slightly if you switch from ici (here) to là (there).