In a weather forecast, "rain" and "showers" refer to different types of precipitation.

Rain is a steady, continuous falling of water droplets from the atmosphere to the ground. It usually lasts for a longer period of time and covers a wider area.

Showers, on the other hand, are shorter in duration and more sporadic in their occurrence. They are characterized by sudden bursts of precipitation that can be heavy or light, and they are typically scattered across a smaller geographic area. Showers often occur as a result of localized atmospheric instability, such as from a passing cold front or thunderstorm.

So, if the forecast calls for rain, you can expect a more prolonged and widespread period of precipitation. If the forecast calls for showers, the precipitation is likely to be more intermittent and isolated.