The ability to tell time in Italy is a valuable skill to have, especially if you find yourself without a watch or smartphone. This highly informative video provides clear and concise instructions on how to accurately ascertain the time while exploring the Italian countryside.
Telling time in Italian is relatively straightforward once you understand the basics. Here’s a guide on how to express time in Italian:
Hour (Ora):
To say the current hour, simply state the number. For example:
- Sono le 3 (It’s 3 o’clock).
Minutes (Minuti):
Minutes are typically expressed using the 24-hour clock. For minutes 1-29, you can state the number of minutes past the hour. For minutes 31-59, you can say the number of minutes to the next hour. For example:
- Sono le 3 e 15 (It’s 3:15).
- Sono le 4 e 25 (It’s 4:25).
- Sono le 5 meno 10 (It’s 10 minutes to 5, which is 4:50).
- Sono le 6 meno 5 (It’s 5 minutes to 6, which is 5:55).
Half Past (Mezza):
To express “half past the hour,” you can use the word “mezza.” For example:
- Sono le 7 e mezza (It’s 7:30).
Quarter Past (Un Quarto):
To express “quarter past the hour,” you can use the phrase “un quarto.” For example:
- Sono le 8 e un quarto (It’s 8:15).
Quarter To (Un Quarto a):
To express “quarter to the next hour,” use “un quarto a.” For example:
- Sono le 9 meno un quarto (It’s 8:45).
AM and PM:
In Italian, there is a 24-hour clock, so there is usually no need to differentiate between AM and PM. However, if you want to specify morning (AM) or evening (PM), you can use “di mattina” for morning and “di sera” for evening. For example:
- Sono le 10 di mattina (It’s 10 in the morning).
- Sono le 7 di sera (It’s 7 in the evening).
Using “E” (And):
When stating the time, you can use the word “e” (and) between the hours and minutes. For example:
- Sono le 2 e 40 (It’s 2:40).
Using “Mezzogiorno” and “Mezzanotte”:
To specifically refer to noon and midnight, you can use “mezzogiorno” and “mezzanotte” respectively. For example:
- Sono le 12 di mezzogiorno (It’s 12 noon).
- Sono le 12 di mezzanotte (It’s 12 midnight).
Using “In Punto”:
To emphasize that it’s exactly a certain hour, you can use “in punto.” For example:
- Sono le 9 in punto (It’s exactly 9 o’clock).
Casual Expressions:
In casual conversations, Italians sometimes use informal expressions like “mezzogiornissimo” for around noon and “mezzanottissima” for around midnight.
Asking for the Time
Here are some ways to ask for the time in Italian:
- Che ora è? (What time is it?)
- Potrebbe dirmi l’ora, per favore? (Could you tell me the time, please?)
Here are some additional tips for telling the time in Italian:
- To say half past the hour, you can say e mezza, for example, sono le nove e mezza (it is nine thirty).
- To say a quarter past the hour, you can say e un quarto, for example, sono le dieci e un quarto (it is ten fifteen).
- To say a quarter to the hour, you can say meno un quarto, for example, sono le undici meno un quarto (it is eleven forty-five).
- To say five minutes to the hour, you can say meno cinque, for example, sono le dodici meno cinque (it is five to twelve).
If you are unsure how to say a specific time, you can always ask someone for help. Italians are generally very friendly and are happy to help people who are learning their language.