Che ore sono? What Time is It? How to Tell Time and Give Dates in Italian

In this post we’ll learn how to tell time in Italian, how to give dates in Italian, and how to talk about days and months in Italian. First we’ll start with Italian vocabulary related to the time of day. Then you’ll learn how to tell time in Italian. Next you’ll learn the days of the week in Italian as well as the months of the year. Finally, you’ll learn how to give dates in Italian.

Ciao! This post is a free sample of a lesson from our online Italian course. The beginner’s course includes all of the vocabulary from our basic mini-lessons, with full audio support by native speakers. The online course also includes simple explanations of basic Italian grammar, plenty of examples, and loads of practice exercises, quizzes, and games. You can check out sample lessons or enroll in the online course here.

Il Giorno, La Notte: Day, Night

Let’s start with some basic vocabulary related to time of day: il giorno day; la notte  night; la mattina  morning; il pomeriggio afternoon; la sera  evening.

• È presto/tardi.
  It’s early/late.
• Io dormo di notte.
  I sleep at night.
• Lavoro durante il giorno.
  I work during the day.
• Leggiamo la sera.
  We read in the evening.

How to Tell Time in Italian: Che ore sono? What time is it?

To ask what time it is, use che ore sono? If the answer is 1:00, use è (is), otherwise use sono (are). The phrase e mezza means and half, meaning half-past. The phrase a che ora means at what time.

• Che ore sono?
  What time is it?
• È mezzogiorno.
  It’s noon.
• È l’una.
  It’s 1:00.
• Sono le due.
  It’s 2:00.
• Sono le tre e mezza.
  It’s 3:30.
• Sono le cinque e quarantacinque.
  It’s 5:45.
• A che ora parte il treno?
  What time does the train leave?
• Il treno parte all’una e mezza del pomeriggio.
  The train leaves at one thirty in the afternoon.
• A che ora apre/chiude il negozio?
  What time does the store open/close?
• Il negozio apre alle dieci del mattino.
  The store opens at ten o’clock in the morning.

The Days of the Week in Italian

The days of the week in Italian are: lunedi Monday; martedì Tuesday; mercoledì Wednesday; giovedi Thursday; venerdì Friday; sabato Saturday; domenica  Sunday. Some other key vocabulary is: oggi today, domani tomorrow, ieri yesterday, stasera tonight, la settimana the week, il fine settimana the weekend.

• Che giorno è oggi?
  What day is it today?
• Lavoro lunedì, martedì, mercoledì, giovedì e venerdì.
  I work on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
• Vediamo i nostri amici ogni sabato.
  We see our friends every Saturday.
• Cosa fai stasera?
  What are you doing tonight?
• Cosa hai fatto ieri?
  What did you do yesterday?
• Ci vediamo questo fine settimana.
  I’ll see you this weekend.

More Italian Time Expressions

Some other important vocabulary to know when you’re talking about dates and times are: la settimana week; il mese month, l’anno year.

• questa settimana, questo mese, quest’anno
  this week, this month, this year
• la settimana scorsa, il mese scorso, l’anno scorso
  last week, last month, last year
• la prossima settimana, il prossimo mese, il prossimo anno
  next week, next month, next year
• La lezione inizia la prossima settimana/mese/anno.
  The class starts next week/ month/ year.
• La lezione è iniziata la scorsa settimana/mese/anno.
  The class started last week/ month/ year.

Months in Italian and How to Give Dates in Italian

The months of the year are: gennaio January, febbraio February, marzo March, aprile April, maggio May, giugno June, luglio July, agosto August, settembre September, ottobre October, novembre November, dicembre December.

• Che data è oggi?
  What’s the date today?
• Quand’è il tuo compleanno?
  When is your birthday?
• Il mio compleanno è il 24 (ventiquattro) novembre.
  My birthday is on November twenty-fourth.
• La mia famiglia arriva il 2 (due) agosto.
  My family arrives on August second.
• Andiamo in vacanza dall’otto luglio al venti luglio.
  We go on vacation from July eighth through July twentieth.

Learn Italian with the Language Garage!

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning how to tell time in Italian, how to give dates in Italian, and how to talk about days and months in Italian. If you want to learn more, check out our other posts on Italian language, culture, and more. And if you’re looking for convenient and affordable live Italian lessons with a real teacher, check out The Language Garage. Our lessons are given online in a virtual classroom, so it doesn’t matter where you live or work – we can come to you. And we have flexible options, with a free trial so that you can decide if there’s a fit. Check us out!

Image by Gerhard Bögner from Pixabay