Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Clouds in Spanish: Nubes
Nubes · noun (feminine) · NOO-behs
The Spanish word for clouds is 'nubes,' the plural of 'nube.' This feminine noun is essential for talking about weather and describing the sky. The word also appears in common expressions like 'estar en las nubes,' meaning to have one's head in the clouds.
Pronounce it NOO-behs, with stress on the first syllable. The singular 'nube' is said as NOO-beh.
Las nubes cubren el cielo esta tarde.
The clouds cover the sky this afternoon.
Clouds in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for clouds, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| nubes | clouds | NOO-behs | Default, widely understood |
| nube | clouds | singular form |
How Native Speakers Use Nubes
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Weather forecast
Mañana habrá nubes por la mañana y sol por la tarde.
Tomorrow there will be clouds in the morning and sun in the afternoon.
Discussing the weather forecast.
Photography
Me encanta fotografiar las nubes al atardecer.
I love photographing clouds at sunset.
Talking about a photography hobby.
Idiomatic expression
Mi hermano siempre está en las nubes durante la clase.
My brother always has his head in the clouds during class.
Using a Spanish idiom about daydreaming.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Nubes
Wrong gender
Incorrect: El nube es grande.
Correct: La nube es grande.
'Nube' is feminine, so it takes the article 'la' and feminine adjective forms.
Incorrect plural
Incorrect: Hay muchos nubes en el cielo.
Correct: Hay muchas nubes en el cielo.
Since 'nubes' is feminine, the adjective 'mucho' must agree in gender, becoming 'muchas.'
Lock in Clouds Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Nubes used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using nubes in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Las nubes cubren el cielo esta tarde. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Clouds in Spanish
- What does 'estar en las nubes' mean?
- The expression 'estar en las nubes' is equivalent to the English idiom 'to have one's head in the clouds,' meaning to be distracted, absent-minded, or lost in thought.
- How do you say cloudy in Spanish?
- The adjective 'nublado' means cloudy, as in 'Hoy está nublado' (today it is cloudy), derived from the same root as 'nube.'
- Is nube used in technology contexts?
- In computing, 'la nube' refers to cloud storage or cloud computing, mirroring the English usage, as in 'guardar archivos en la nube' (to save files in the cloud).