欧洲酷暑热浪与新常态

Many countries in Europe are experiencing an extreme heatwave. Parts of Spain and Portugal recorded temperatures of 46 degrees in June - their highest ever temperature for that month. Many countries, including France, Italy and the UK, have been on a red heat alert. This means there is a major risk to life and infrastructure. Two people in Italy have died because of the heat, while in Turkey over 50,000 people have been evacuated because of wildfires. Let's have our first headline.

This is from Sky News. European heatwave leaves Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece in sweltering 40-degree heat. That headline again. European heatwave leaves Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece in sweltering 40-degree heat. And that's from Sky News. So this headline says the heatwave is leaving countries in sweltering heat. We're interested in the word 'sweltering'. Phil, what can you tell us? Well, sweltering is an adjective and if it's sweltering, it's very, very hot. So if you're feeling hot, you can say 'I'm sweltering' or you can use it to talk about the weather.

It's sweltering outside today. But it's more than just very hot. It's a negative heat, isn't it? It is. It's uncomfortably hot - too hot. You don't want it to be sweltering. And there are similar words to sweltering that can have this negative meaning too. You could say the heat is boiling, suffocating or stifling. For example, this heat is suffocating - we'll have to stay in the air conditioning all day. But some words, like scorching, can be used in a positive or a negative way, depending on how much you like the heat.

Yes, so you could say it's scorching but I love this kind of hot weather. We had sweltering - that's uncomfortably hot. For example, it's sweltering out here - I need a cold drink and a fan. This is Learning English from the News - our podcast about the news headlines. Today we're talking about the heat wave in Europe. France is being particularly affected by the heat wave - there have been predictions of temperatures reaching over 40 degrees.

On Tuesday, 16 areas of France, including Paris, were on a red alert - the highest extreme heat warning. Some of these have been extended into Wednesday. Many schools, roads and the top of the Eiffel Tower are closed because of high temperatures. The French authorities have said everyone is in danger, including people who are in good health. Let's have our next headline. Schools closed and Paris at standstill, as France takes brunt of Europe's heatwave. And that's from MSN.

That headline again - schools closed and Paris at standstill, as France takes brunt of Europe's heatwave. And that's from MSN. This headline is talking about the heatwave specifically in France. It says Paris is at a standstill. That means lots of places are closed and people are staying inside because of the heat. But we're interested in another phrase. The headline says France takes the brunt of Europe's heatwave. What does 'take the brunt of something' mean? Well, the word 'brunt' means the worst part or main force of something negative.

But we almost always use it in this phrase. So France takes the brunt of the heatwave means France is most affected by the heatwave. It's worse in France than in any other European country. And we can also say suffer or bear the brunt of. So France is suffering or bearing the brunt of the heat. How else can we use 'take the brunt of'? Well, we can use it with attacks. For example, if there's a war and one city is attacked more than anywhere else, you could say that city is taking the brunt of the war.

And we can also use 'brunt of' with people. If I'm angry today and I shout at you, Phil, you will take the brunt of my anger. That's right. But please don't shout at me. We've had 'take the brunt of' – experience the worst part of something negative. For example, the boss took the brunt of the blame when most of the staff left the company. This is Learning English from the News, our podcast about the news headlines.

Today we're talking about the heatwave in Europe. Experts say these heatwaves are happening because of human-caused climate change. Extreme hot weather, like heatwaves, will happen more often, last for longer and become even more intense as the planet continues to warm, so the UN's intergovernmental panel on climate change. And that's what our next headline is about. Lethal heat is Europe's new climate reality, and that's from Politico. That headline again – lethal heat is Europe's new climate reality, and that's from Politico.

So this headline says the lethal heat – lethal means it can kill you – is Europe's new climate reality. Now, we know 'new' and we know 'reality', but what do they mean together? Well, a new reality means a situation that has been changed from how it was. It's now a different and new situation compared to the past. So deadly heat is the new climate reality in Europe. It means it wasn't the situation in the past, it wasn't as hot, but now it's normal for Europe to experience this because of climate change.

Many countries in Europe have always had hot weather, but the levels of extreme heat have become more normal over recent years. This new heat is the new reality. We have a similar expression which means the same – the new normal. So we could also say lethal heat is the new normal for Europe. And can you give us another example, Phil? Well, my sister has just had a baby – she says she's not getting any sleep at all, but that's her new reality.