'How's the weather?' vs 'What's the weather like?'

[Olympian]

Hello,

This question is about the difference, if any, between 'how's the weather?' and 'what's the weather like?'

(I have read this thread on these questions )

In a book that I came across, the question
'what's the weather like?' is answered with the following:
It's sunny/hazy/foggy/clear/smoggy/windy/humid/muggy/raining/drizzling/snowing

and the question
'how's the weather?' is answered with the following:
It's warm/cool/cold/freezing

I want to ask if this is correct. I have seen some discussion on another site where someone tried to distinguish between
'how's your boss' and 'what's your boss like', but that does not seem to apply in case of weather.

Actually, both the questions ('how's the weather' and 'what's the weather like') mean the same to me, and I answer 'it's hot/warm' or 'it's raining' depending upon how it is here. Is this wrong?

Thank you

 

[Raymott]

They mean the same thing to me.

 

[5jj]

To me, too.

Note that 'How's the weather like' is not natural English.

 

[Olympian]

@Raymott and @5jj, thank you.

@5jj, sorry, it is my mistake in copying the question. The question is 'How's the weather'.

I will edit my original post and make the correction.

Thank you

 

[BobK]

For me they mean the same. However, 'How's the weather', being syntactically less demanding, sounds to me like the sort of choice a non-native speaker might make. (Note, it sounds fine: when I hear 'How's the weather?' I don't think 'Uh-oh, we've got a foreigner here' (;-)) But if someone says 'Excuse sir, can you tell me some informations' I might expect to hear something like 'How's the weather?')

b

 

[Olympian]

For me they mean the same. However, 'How's the weather', being syntactically less demanding, sounds to me like the sort of choice a non-native speaker might make. (Note, it sounds fine: when I hear 'How's the weather?' I don't think 'Uh-oh, we've got a foreigner here' (;-)) But if someone says 'Excuse sir, can you tell me some informations' I might expect to hear something like 'How's the weather?')

b

@BobK, thank you. :lol: I don't say that, but my accent gives me away as a foreigner. ;-)

So, would a native English speaker say 'What's the weather like?'
Sorry, still a bit confused. Or, does it sound more natural with 'How's the weather there?'

 

[Barb_D]

The weather is here.
I wish you were beautiful.

 

[5jj]

I wish you were beautiful.

You lost me there.

 

[emsr2d2]

For me, they're both fine. The only difference I might consider is that my reply to "How's the weather?" would probably be shorter.

How's the weather?
It's good.

What's the weather like?
It's good. It's really sunny and hot but nice and cool at night.

How's the weather?
It's terrible.

What's the weather like?
Awful. It's been raining all day and they're talking about snow tomorrow.

 

[david11]

I don't understand Barb_D reply in this context.

 

[emsr2d2]

I don't understand Barb_D reply in this context.

Nor do I and nor did 5jj. Far be it from me to make assumptions, but I think Barb may have meant to post the second sentence on another thread. If not, I'm lost.

 

[david11]

Nor do I and nor did 5jj. Far be it from me to make assumptions, but I think Barb may have meant to post the second sentence on another thread. If not, I'm lost.

I think she meant I wish it(weather) were beautiful.

 

[shannico]

For me, they're both fine. The only difference I might consider is that my reply to "How's the weather?" would probably be shorter.

How's the weather?
It's good.

What's the weather like?
It's good. It's really sunny and hot but nice and cool at night.

How's the weather?
It's terrible.

What's the weather like?
Awful. It's been raining all day and they're talking about snow tomorrow.

I totally agree.

How's the weather? seems more related to your opinion of the whether (Great, terrible, awful, fantastic) weather What's the weather like? would be the standard question to ask someone about weather conditions.

 

[Olympian]

For me, they're both fine. The only difference I might consider is that my reply to "How's the weather?" would probably be shorter.

How's the weather?
It's good.

What's the weather like?
It's good. It's really sunny and hot but nice and cool at night.

How's the weather?
It's terrible.

What's the weather like?
Awful. It's been raining all day and they're talking about snow tomorrow.

@emsr2d2, thank you. I can easily remember this. :up:

 

[emsr2d2]

@emsr2d2, thank you. I can easily remember this. :up:

That's good to know. Bear in mind, though, that not everyone might feel the same. You may well ask someone "How's the weather?" and get the reply "It's amazing. It's hot and sunny with clear blue skies and I haven't seen a cloud for three weeks!" or ask someone else "What's the weather like?" and just get "It's OK".

There's not a clear distinction between them, that's just my interpretation.

 

[~Mav~]

The weather is here.
I wish you were beautiful.

You lost me there.

I don't understand Barb_D reply in this context.

Nor do I and nor did 5jj. Far be it from me to make assumptions, but I think Barb may have meant to post the second sentence on another thread. If not, I'm lost.

Y'all might want to check out this song:

The weather is here I wish you were beautiful

The weather is here I wish you were beautiful
My thoughts aren't too clear but don't run away
My girlfriend's a bore, my job is too dutiful
Hell nobody's perfect would you like to play?
I feel together today

;-) :-D

 

[TheParser]

Y'all might want to check out this song:

The weather is here I wish you were beautiful





;-) :-D

AWESOME! (As you young people say):lol:

 

[Barb_D]

Sorry. I would have expected more Jimmy Buffet fans.

Old postcards from people vacationing in nice places, when you didn't just get on the phone and answer questions about the weather, used to say "The weather is beautiful. I wish you were here."

This song was a play on that.

 

[emsr2d2]

Sorry. I would have expected more Jimmy Buffet fans.

Old postcards from people vacationing in nice places, when you didn't just get on the phone and answer questions about the weather, used to say "The weather is beautiful. I wish you were here."

This song was a play on that.

Never heard of it but your post means I can probably find out something I've always wondered about. Is his surname pronounced like the word for what wind does, or a table full of food (ie the French way)? ;-)

 

[Barb_D]

Rhymes with "rough it."

I have a play list called "Happy." There are a few of his songs on that playlist. How can you not love "Cheeseburger in Paradise"?