"It's raining cats and dogs"

Question

At this moment is raining heavily in Washington DC.So the expression 'raining cats and dogs"is applicable.What is the Spanish equivalent?

I always wonder HOW these sayings get started! ;-) - Gillygaloo, Apr 12, 2011

Answer 1

In El Salvador they commonly use "Sapos y culebras" instead of "cats and dogs".

Que padre! :-)) - pacofinkler, Apr 12, 2011

Answer 2

It's raining cats and dogs is a regional expression that is used, recognised and understood in England and maybe in some English speaking countries

It is raining cats and dogs can also be translated as raining heavily or bucketing down It is obviously only an idiom/colloquial expression and cannot be translated literally between languages.

It is raining cats and dogs

= está. lloviendo a cántaros/o está lloviendo a chuzos/o está lloviendo a mares

I hope this helps

Jejej I love it! - pacofinkler, Apr 12, 2011

Thanks, Paco:) - FELIZ77, Apr 12, 2011

Answer 3

Hi Faliron and welcome to the Spanishdict forum!

If you look at the dictionary entry for rain you will find an example of a similar Spanish expression. You can also find the expression if you search the phrasebook for the terms "cats and dogs."

:) - FELIZ77, Apr 12, 2011

Thank you!! Actually we use the exact same expression in my native language!!! - faliron, Apr 12, 2011

I have always liked "katzen und hunden" I laugh everytime think about it. - pacofinkler, Apr 12, 2011

Answer 4

¡Está lloviendo perros y gatos!

My art teacher taught me that 30 years ago. - MattM, Apr 12, 2011

No Matt sorry the Spanish would never say that! lol I joked about that once on one of my posts but I also showed the correct phrase :) - FELIZ77, Apr 12, 2011

llover a cántaros = to rain cats and dogs or está lloviendo a cántaros = it's raining cats and dogs - FELIZ77, Apr 12, 2011

I've seen in the movie Magnolia how it rained frogs, but dogs and cats? Sorry, not in Spanish. - lazarus1907, Apr 12, 2011

it has "rained" fish somewhere in the world, before too! why not cats and dogs?! ;-) - Gillygaloo, Apr 12, 2011

How strange, that a word that means "pitcher" can also mean "raining cats and dogs"! - Gillygaloo, Apr 12, 2011

Well, it is an idiom obviously and cannot be translated literally but it is recognised both in our SpanishDict phrase book and Oxford Spanish Dictionary It can also be translated as raining heavily or bucketing down ! - - FELIZ77, Apr 12, 2011