The clouds that primarily bring rain are nimbostratus and cumulonimbus clouds. The term "nimbus" originates from the Latin word for "rain", so its prefix and suffix forms nimbo- and -nimbus are fitting to denote clouds that give us rain. Nimbostratus clouds are dark gray, low-lying, and spread out, often associated with continuous rain. Cumulonimbus clouds, also known as thunderheads, are tall and towering, and are responsible for heavy rain, thunderstorms, and even hail.
While there are other types of clouds that can produce precipitation, these two are the most common and responsible for the majority of our rainfall.
