TERMIUM Plus®
From: Translation Bureau
On social media
Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.
MAINLY CLOUDY SKY [3 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2001-01-30
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Meteorological Forecasting, Data Measurement and Analysis
- Atmospheric Physics
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- sunny period
1, record 1, English, sunny%20period
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
- sunny interval 2, record 1, English, sunny%20interval
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Clear sky is virtually cloud-free. Sunny or a few clouds means that less than half the sky has clouds. Cloudy means that clouds cover more than 60 per cent of the sky. Mainly sunny means sunny with some cloudy periods. Mainly cloudy means cloudy with some sunny periods. Overcast means grey and dull skies, with extensive cloud cover. 1, record 1, English, - sunny%20period
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 CONT
THURSDAY 11th: Generally cloudy, with only a few clear or sunny intervals, but mostly dry with F2-3 W’ly winds. 2, record 1, English, - sunny%20period
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Prévisions météorologiques et mesure et analyse des données
- Physique de l'atmosphère
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- période ensoleillée
1, record 1, French, p%C3%A9riode%20ensoleill%C3%A9e
correct, feminine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
- intervalle ensoleillé 2, record 1, French, intervalle%20ensoleill%C3%A9
masculine noun
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Un ciel clair est un ciel presque exempt de nuages. Quand on parle de ciel ensoleillé ou de quelques nuages, c'est que moins de la moitié du ciel a des nuages. Nuageux veut dire que les nuages couvrent plus de 60 p. 100 du ciel. Principalement ensoleillé veut dire ensoleillé avec quelques périodes nuageuses. Principalement nuageux veut dire nuageux avec quelques périodes ensoleillées. Couvert désigne un ciel gris et maussade, d'une importante nébulosité. 1, record 1, French, - p%C3%A9riode%20ensoleill%C3%A9e
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 1991-06-18
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Atmospheric, Climatic and Meteorological Phenomena
- Hydrology and Hydrography
- Climatology
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- mainly sunny sky
1, record 2, English, mainly%20sunny%20sky
correct, Canada
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
- mostly sunny sky 1, record 2, English, mostly%20sunny%20sky
correct, Canada
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
In the National Sky Cover Terminology (Environment-Canada), the term mainly sunny sky is for use when the amount of cloud is expected to be 5 tenths or less. There may be greater amounts of cloud for up to 40 percent of the period. 1, record 2, English, - mainly%20sunny%20sky
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Effort shall be made to use the most definitive sky cover term appropriate to the meteorological situation. The use of the terms "mainly sunny", "mainly cloudy" and "variable cloudiness" should be limited as mush as possible. "Mostly" is synonymous with "mainly". 1, record 2, English, - mainly%20sunny%20sky
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Phénomènes météorologiques, climatiques et atmosphériques
- Hydrologie et hydrographie
- Climatologie
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- ciel généralement ensoleillé
1, record 2, French, ciel%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ralement%20ensoleill%C3%A9
correct, masculine noun, Canada
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
- ciel plutôt ensoleillé 1, record 2, French, ciel%20plut%C3%B4t%20ensoleill%C3%A9
correct, masculine noun, Canada
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A utiliser lorsque la quantité des nuages prévus est de 5 dixièmes ou moins. Il peut y avoir de plus grandes quantités de nuages jusqu'à 40 pour cent de la période. 1, record 2, French, - ciel%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ralement%20ensoleill%C3%A9
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
"Plutôt" est synonyme de "généralement" 1, record 2, French, - ciel%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ralement%20ensoleill%C3%A9
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 OBS
Terme et équivalent tirés du Manuel des normes et méthodes des services météorologiques au public (édition de janvier 1988). 1, record 2, French, - ciel%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ralement%20ensoleill%C3%A9
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3 - internal organization data 1991-06-18
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Atmospheric, Climatic and Meteorological Phenomena
- Hydrology and Hydrography
- Climatology
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- mainly cloudy sky
1, record 3, English, mainly%20cloudy%20sky
correct, Canada
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
- mostly cloudy sky 1, record 3, English, mostly%20cloudy%20sky
correct, Canada
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
In the National Sky Cover Terminology(Environment-Canada), the term mainly cloudy sky is for use when the amount of cloud is expected to be 6 tenths or greater. There may be lesser amounts of cloud for up to 40 percent of the period. 1, record 3, English, - mainly%20cloudy%20sky
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
"Mostly" is synonymous with "mainly". 1, record 3, English, - mainly%20cloudy%20sky
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Phénomènes météorologiques, climatiques et atmosphériques
- Hydrologie et hydrographie
- Climatologie
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- ciel généralement nuageux
1, record 3, French, ciel%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ralement%20nuageux
correct, masculine noun, Canada
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
- ciel plutôt nuageux 1, record 3, French, ciel%20plut%C3%B4t%20nuageux
correct, masculine noun, Canada
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A utiliser lorsque la quantité des nuages prévus est d'au moins 6 dixièmes. Il peut y avoir des quantités moindres de nuages jusqu'à 40 pour cent de la période. 1, record 3, French, - ciel%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ralement%20nuageux
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Plutôt est synonyme de généralement. 1, record 3, French, - ciel%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ralement%20nuageux
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 2 OBS
Terme et équivalent tirés du Manuel des normes et méthodes des services météorologiques au public (édition de janvier 1988). 1, record 3, French, - ciel%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ralement%20nuageux
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)
Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.
Writing tools
The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies
Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified:


