Other Words for "Snow": Synonyms, Adjectives, and Wintery Vibes

The word snow brings different pictures to mind, depending on where you live. Those who live in warmer climates may imagine snow as a soft, white blanket, draped lovingly over a winter neighborhood. But people who are well-acquainted with snow may picture walls of ice, dagger-like icicles, and wild, slippery roads instead. What does snow bring to mind for you — and are there more descriptive words for it than one four-letter word?

The English word snow comes from the Latin word nix and the Old English word snāw.

But when you’re writing about a beautiful winter scene in a short story, poem, or novel, the word snow doesn’t always cut it. Use these fun winter words and phrases to describe a picturesque layer of frozen condensation.

cold crystals
cotton cloud
frosty paradise
frozen canvas
frozen fluff
frozen stardust
lacy blanket
lacy tablecloth
polar quilt
powdered gems
sparkling white blanket
white blanket
white crystals
winter wonderland
winter’s wooly blanket
wintry quilt

If you’re looking for words that describe snow, try these cold adjectives out in your writing instead.

arctic
biting
bright
cloud-soft
crystalline
dappled
diamond-dotted
flaky
flecked
fluffy
frosty
frozen
ice-white
icy
opaque
powdery
sparkling
soft
solid

Not all snow is created equal. Some snow is fluffy and fun; other snow is wet and muddy. How can you describe the differences between the many types of snow with weather words? Several weather words (and a sprinkling of snowboarder slang) can help you out.

Weather Term	Meaning
chowder	ski slang for a combination of snow that’s been chopped up by skis and powder
corn snow	snow that becomes granulated by repeatedly freezing, melting, then refreezing
cornice	a mass of ice and snow that forms an overhang
crust	a hard layer of snow on top of a softer layer
drift	a hill of snow blown into place by wind
finger drift	narrow, fingerlike drifts of snow that stretch across roads
flurry	snowflakes that fall intermittently without accumulating on the ground
frost	frozen water droplets
frozen water vapor	water that condenses to ice without first going into a liquid state
graupel	similar to hail but smaller and less hard
grue	thin floating snow
hoarfrost	feathery frost that has frozen into long grains
lake effect snow	snow that forms when below freezing air goes over one of the Great Lakes, which are warmer than the air
new snow	fresh snow accumulation in which individual crystals of ice are visible
névé	partially compacted snow that is almost glacial ice
old snow	snow that has been accumulated long enough so that individual crystals of ice are not visible
perennial	snow that stays accumulated on the ground for longer than a year
pillow drift	an expansive snowdrift that stretches across a road
pow pow	snowboarder slang for super-fresh fluffy powder; the ultimate snow for skiing
powder	snow with fresh ice crystals that are still loose
skift	light dusting of snow
sleet	snow and rain mixed together
slush	watery snow that has started to melt
smud	slang for melting snow with mud mixed in
snice	slang for snow and ice
snirt	slang for melting snow with dirt mixed in
sposh	accumulated snow that has started to melt and become slushy
winter fluff	fluffy, delightful snow

What’s the difference between a blizzard and a snow squall? Knowing the difference could possibly save your life (in a real way, not a grammar way).

Weather Term	Meaning
avalanche	conditions in which a mass of accumulated snow rapidly falls down a mountain or other slope
blizzard	a strong, lengthy snowstorm in windy conditions that causes low visibility; typically lasts for three hours or longer, with winds above 35 miles per hour
ground blizzard	a winter storm with no new snowfall, but accumulated snow is lifted up and blown around by the wind
firnification	process by which snow becomes névé (partially compacted)
onding	heavy snowfall, but not quite a blizzard
snowmageddon	slang for severe weather involving snow; combines snow and Armageddon
snowpocalypse	slang for a severe snow weather event; combines snow and apocalypse
snow shower	light or moderate snowfall that lasts for a brief period of time with some accumulation
snow squall	a heavy snow shower accompanied by strong winds (much shorter and less severe than a blizzard)
snowy	weather conditions in which snow is falling, whether continuously or sporadically
thundersnow	thunder and lightning accompanied by snowfall (instead of rain)
whiteout	snowy conditions so extreme that visibility is reduced nearly to zero
winter storm	involves snowfall of six inches within 12 hours, eight inches within 24 hours, or an accumulation of six inches of sleet
winter weather	blowing snow, significant accumulation (below the winter storm threshold) or some combination of freezing rain, sleet, or snow
wintry mix	a mixture of falling snow, ice, and rain

Every language has its own word for snow — and in cultures that live in snowy parts of the world, they have many words for snow.

Language	Word for Snow	Pronunciation
Cherokee	unatsi	(uh-nuh-tsee)
Chinese	xuě (雪)	(sheh)
Czech	sníh	(sneeh)
Dutch	sneeuw	(sneh-ew)
French	neige	(neej)
German	schnee	(shnee)
Greek	χιόνι	(sho-nee)
Icelandic	snjór	(shnoh)
Inuktitut	qanik (falling snow)	(kun-nik)
Inuktitut	aputi (snow on the ground)	(ah-puh-tee)
Japanese	yuki (雪)	(yoo-kee)
Norwegian	snø	(snuh)
Spanish	nieve	(nee-eh-veh)
Swedish	snö	(snuh)

There’s more to snow than those four letters — and there’s more to nature than the coldest time of the year. After you’ve described your peaceful winter scene, move on to the other seasons with nature words that describe the beauty of Earth.

Other Words for "Snow": Synonyms, Adjectives, and Wintery Vibes

Other Words for “Snow” in Writing

Adjectives To Describe Snow

Other Words for Different Types of Snow

Terms for Snowy Weather and Conditions

Words for "Snow" in Other Languages

Winter Words (and Spring, and Fall, and Summer)