The Four Seasons in Spanish

Most of the Spanish-speaking world talks about four seasons of the year (estaciones del aà ±o), just as in English: el invierno — winterla primavera — springel verano — summer (Another word for summer, el està ­o, has mostly literary use.)el otoà ±o — autumn or fall Key Takeaways: The Seasons in Spanish The names of the four seasons are typically used with definite articles in Spanish.Spanish speakers in the tropics often refer to two seasons, the rainy and dry seasons.It is common to use de season to speak of the seasons in adjective form. As in English, seasons are deemed to begin and end—in a formal sense—on the years longest and shortest days. For example, summer begins around June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere but around Dec. 21 in the Southern Hemisphere. But in a popular sense, summer can also be thought of as including the hottest months, typically June, July, and August in the Northern Hemisphere, but December, January, and February in the Southern Hemisphere. In much of the tropics, however, just two seasons are recognized locally: la estacià ³n lluviosa — rainy season or wet season, which can also be called inviernola estacià ³n seca — dry season, which can also be called verano When to Use the Definite Article With Seasons The definite article (el or la) is almost always used with the names of the seasons. In many cases, it is used where it isnt in English: La primavera es la à ©poca del aà ±o en que se manifiestan mà ¡s evidentemente los procesos del nacimiento y el crecimiento. (Spring is the time of the year in which the processes of birth and growth are most evident.)El otoà ±o me parece abrumadoramente triste. (Autumn seems overwhelmingly sad to me.)El verano se acerca. (Summer is getting near.)No tengo nada que hacer durante el invierno. (I dont have anything to do during winter.) The same rule applies in the plural form: Los veranos en la ciudad nos traen grandes conciertos. (Summers in the city bring us great concerts.)Me encantan los colores brillantes de los otoà ±os de Nueva Inglaterra. (I love the brilliant colors of New England autumns.)No me gustan los inviernos. (I dont like winters.) Determiners such as este (this) and un (one) can substitute the definite article. When You Dont Need the Definite Article The definite article can be omitted (but doesnt have to be) after forms of the verb ser and the prepositions en and de: En verano debemos cuidar el pelo con productos diseà ±ados para esta estacià ³n. (In summer we should take care of our hair with products designed for this season.)Los colores de primavera son muy llamativos y bonitos. (Spring colors are very intense and pretty.)Ya era otoà ±o en Parà ­s. (It was already autumn in Paris.) Etymology of the Seasons Names The main names of the four seasons in Spanish all come from Latin: Invierno comes from hibernum, which is also the root for hibernate.Primavera is related to primera (first) and ver (to see), because it is the time of year when it is possible to first see new life.Verano comes from veranum, which in Latin could refer to either spring or summer.Otoà ±o comes from autumnus, the root of the English autumn. Adjectival Forms Most of the time, the equivalent of adjectives such as wintry and summery can be translated  by combining the name of the season with de to create a phrase such as de invierno and de verano. There are also separate adjectival forms that are sometimes used: invernal (wintry), primaveral (springlike), veraniego (summery), and otoà ±al (autumnal). Verano also has a verb form, veranear, which means to spend the summer away from home. Sample Sentences Referring to Seasons Cada primavera, las mà ¡s de 200 especies de plantas con flores que hay en el parque crean una brillante exhibicià ³n. (Every spring, the 200-plus species of flowered plants in the park create a brilliant display.)El otoà ±o es un buen momento para visitar Mà ©xico. (Fall is a good time to visit Mexico.)La estacià ³n lluviosa dura en el interior del paà ­s desde mayo hasta octubre. (The rainy season  lasts in the countrys interior from May until October.) ¿Cuà ¡nto costarà ¡ esquiar en Chile este invierno? (How much will it cost to ski in Chile this winter?)Los dà ­as de verano son largos. (Summer days are long.)El riesgo de incendios forestales en la estacià ³n seca aumentarà ¡ este aà ±o. (The risk of forest fires in the dry season will increase this year.)Fue un verano inolvidable. (It was an unforgettable summer.)En Japà ³n, el otoà ±o es la estacià ³n mà ¡s agradable del aà ±o. (In Japan, autumn is the most pleasant season of the year.)