word of the day question

Question

So the word of the day is el agua and it says water; rain. I thought there was a different word for rain?

How would you say it is going to rain today ?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Well, rain is water that falls from the sky, isn't it?

Yes, the most common word for rain in Spanish is "lluvia", but "agua" can be used idiomatically to mean the same thing:

"Creo que viene agua" - "I believe there's rain coming".

"Está cayendo un aguacero" - "We're getting a downpour".

I have never heard "agua" used, even idiomatically, to mean "lluvia"...If we are gonna treat "agua" as a synonym for "lluvia", let's at least make it clear that it might be used idiomatically, but they are not interchangeable terms. - Oramasdude, May 7, 2011

For example "Ha caído mucha agua". - lazarus1907, May 7, 2011

Answer 2

I know it isn't exactly polite, but is there a phrase in Spanish like "Hold your water" in English? (It does mean, "Wait until you get to the bathroom", but it also means "be a little patient")

orina is definition 11, of agua so probably yes. - lorenzo9, May 7, 2011

Answer 3

drae

Apparently, agua is used for rain, tears, etc. much as it is in English.

Answer 4

I like Gekkosan's answer.

It's going to rain today = Va a llover hoy.