Uncover the Methods to Telling Time in Italian Confidently

Tips on how to inform time in Italian

Now, let’s learn to reply all these questions within the chart. Telling time in Italian is sort of simple since it really works equally to English in some ways. You simply have to construct a small vocabulary of Italian phrases associated to time and perceive some variations between the 2 languages.

Telling the hour in Italian

Telling the time as “o’clock” is step one and the inspiration for all different time expressions. In English, you utilize:

In Italian, the construction is analogous however not an identical.

• essere (to be) + particular article + hour
  • Sono le due. = It’s two o’clock.

The vital distinction is that Italian grammar treats most hours as plural, so the verb and the article should change accordingly. They’re singular for one o’clock and plural for the opposite hours.

• È l’una del pomeriggio. (s) = It’s one p.m.
  
• Sono le otto di mattina. (pl) = It’s eight a.m.
  

The chart under reveals how straightforward it’s to say when the time you wish to inform is on the hour.

Midday and midnight in Italian

Italians additionally use frequent time expressions like “midday” and “midnight.” On this case, the verb is at all times within the third singular individual, and you’ll skip the article.

• mezzogiorno = midday
  
  • Finalmente è mezzogiorno: pranziamo! = It’s lastly midday; let’s have lunch!
• mezzanotte = midnight
  
  • È troppo tardi: è già mezzanotte. = It’s too late: It’s already midnight.

Including minutes to the hour

There are two methods to incorporate minutes when telling time, and each are extensively utilized in on a regular basis dialog.

The commonest manner is to say the hour first, adopted by e (and) + the minutes. This works for between 1 and 59 minutes previous the hour, so be certain to be taught Italian numbers, too.

• Sono le otto e venticinque. = It’s eight twenty-five p.m. 
  
• Sono le due e quarantadue. = It’s two forty-two p.m. 
  

When the time goes past half an hour, you may say the minutes left to the upcoming hour utilizing meno (minus) or mancano (are lacking to/till):

• Sono le sei meno venti. = It’s twenty to 6.
• Mancano cinque minuti alle dieci. = (actually) 5 minutes are lacking till ten o’clock.

Saying ‘half previous’ and ‘quarter to’

When time fractions are exact to quarters or half hours, telling time is even simpler as a result of you should utilize invariable expressions with e (and) or meno (minus).

• È l’una e un quarto. = It’s 1 / 4 previous one. 
  
• Sono le otto e mezza. = It’s half previous eight.
  
• Sono le sei meno un quarto. = It’s 1 / 4 to six. 
  

Tips on how to use a.m. and p.m. in Italian

Italians don’t use a.m. and p.m. the identical manner English audio system do. If the context makes it clear whether or not you’re speaking about morning or afternoon, you may say the time with none further phrases.

Nevertheless, if it’s good to specify the a part of the day, add time-of-day expressions like:

• di mattina = within the morning
  • Sono le sei di mattina. = It’s six o’clock a.m.
    
• del pomeriggio = within the afternoon
  • Sono le tre del pomeriggio. = It’s three o’clock p.m. 
    
• di sera = within the night
  • Sono le sette di sera. = It’s seven o’clock p.m. 
    
• di notte = within the evening
  • È l’una di notte. = It’s one o’clock a.m.
    

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12-hours vs 24-hour clock in Italy

The official time format in Italy is the 24-hour clock, additionally known as orario militare (navy time). Despite the fact that Italians use the 12-hour clock in casual conversations, in official contexts, like practice schedules, restaurant reservations, or TV packages, you’ll see instances written like:

• 13:00 = 1:00 p.m.
• 18:30 = 6:30 p.m.
• 20:00 = 8:00 p.m.

In spoken Italian, folks use the 24-hour format in additional formal or work-related conditions:

• Lo spettacolo inizierà alle ventitré. = The present will begin at twenty-three (11 p.m.).
• Il assembly con i clienti è fissato alle quindici. = The assembly with purchasers is ready at fifteen (3 p.m.).

A trick to changing instances from the 24-hour format is subtracting 12 from any quantity over 12. For instance, 17:00-12 = 5:00 p.m. Or, you may maintain counting from noon until midnight, as proven within the chart under.

Tips on how to set the time for an appointment in Italian

When you grasp telling time in Italian, the subsequent step is studying to speak about one thing taking place at a selected time, for instance, while you make a reservation at a spa or nail down an appointment with a brand new consumer.

Saying ‘at the moment’

In these expressions, the particular article is changed by the Italian prepositions a and all’/alle (at/on the) adopted by the point.

• In Italia, il 31 dicembre a mezzanotte si festeggia l’anno nuovo. = In Italy, on December 31 at midnight, we have fun the brand new 12 months. 
  
• Il treno parte all’una e mezza. = The practice departs at one thirty p.m. 
  
• La festa inizia alle sette e mezza. = The occasion begins at seven thirty. 
  

Utilizing ‘round,’ ‘earlier than,’ or ‘after’ a time

Generally, you don’t have to be so exact. In informal dialog, you should utilize approximations to speak about time extra flexibly.

• Use verso (round) to say one thing occurs round a sure time:
  • Ci vediamo verso le tre. = We’ll see one another round three o’clock.
  • Siamo tornati a casa verso mezzanotte. = We got here house round midnight.
• Use intorno a (round/about) like verso, if you wish to sound extra formal or in written language:
  • Il movie finisce intorno alle undici. = The film ends round eleven.
• Use poco prima/poco dopo (Slightly earlier than/somewhat after) to explain approximate instances with an emphasis on being simply earlier than or simply after the hour:
  • Sono arrivato poco prima delle cinque. = I arrived somewhat earlier than 5.
  • La lezione è iniziata poco dopo le dieci. = The category started shortly after ten o’clock.

You may as well modify these additional for extra precision.

• Poco prima dell’una e mezza. = Slightly earlier than half previous one.
• Subito dopo le dieci. = Simply after ten o’clock.

Continuously requested questions on telling time in Italian

Studying how you can inform the time in Italian touches on completely different features of the language and tradition. So, whereas this information provides you a complete overview of how you can ask and inform the time, these fast solutions assist full the image.

How do you say ‘time’ in Italian?

The phrase “time” isn’t a one-size-fits-all phrase in Italian. Relying on what you imply, you would possibly say:

• Tempo: the direct translation of “time” works when discussing time generally.
  • Amo passare del tempo con le mie amiche. = I get pleasure from spending time with my buddies. 
    
  • Da quanto tempo studi italiano? = How lengthy have you ever been finding out Italian?
    
• Ora: when asking or telling the time.
  • Che ora è? = What time is it?
    
  • A che ora arriva il volo? = What time does the flight arrive?
    
• Volta: when referring to the variety of instances one thing occurs.
  • la prima volta = the primary time
  • l’ultima volta = the final time
  • tutte le volte = each time
  • stavolta = this time

What’s the most typical option to inform the time in Italian?

Italians sometimes use the 12-hour clock and time fractions in casual, on a regular basis conversations. For instance:

• Sai che ora è? = Have you learnt what time it’s?
  • Sono le otto e mezza. = It’s 8:30./It’s half previous eight.

In additional formal contexts, you should utilize the 24-hour clock and provides the precise minutes to sound extra polished:

• Sono le otto e trenta. = It’s 8:30.
• Sono le venti e trenta. = It’s 8:30 p.m. (thirty previous twenty)

How do you say ‘morning,’ ‘afternoon,’ ‘night,’ and ‘evening’ in Italian?

Italians divide the day into 4 components:

• la mattina or il mattino = morning
• il pomeriggio = afternoon
• la sera = night
• la notte = evening

Plus, there are two particular moments of the day:

• mezzogiorno = midday
• mezzanotte = midnight

These phrases aren’t simply helpful for telling time. In addition they form on a regular basis greetings and expressions, serving to you inform when to say “good morning” or “have an excellent day” in Italian.

How do you say ‘o’clock’ in Italian?

There isn’t any Italian equal to the expression “o’clock.” When the time is on the hour, you don’t have to specify it in Italian. You may merely say

• Sono le cinque. = It’s 5 (o’clock). 

Nevertheless, if you wish to spotlight that the time is exact, you may say in punto or spaccate, which is like saying “sharp” when telling the time.

• Sono le otto in punto. = It’s precisely eight o’clock.
• Ti aspetto alle 5:30 in punto. Non fare tardi. = I count on you at 5:30 sharp. Don’t be late.
• Sono le quattro spaccate. = It’s precisely 4 o’clock.

You’ve bought the time down in Italian—good work! Now, let’s make it stick. Say it out loud or inform a pal when your favourite present begins, when dinner’s prepared, or while you’re hopping on a airplane to Italy (manifesting it hardly). The extra you play with it, the extra pure your Italian conversations stream.