{"id":10792,"date":"2016-01-13T18:26:48","date_gmt":"2016-01-13T17:26:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/italian\/?p=10792"},"modified":"2016-01-13T18:26:48","modified_gmt":"2016-01-13T17:26:48","slug":"how-to-tell-the-time-in-italian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/italian\/how-to-tell-the-time-in-italian\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Tell The Time In Italian"},"content":{"rendered":"

So … if you don’t have a donkey (see<\/span> Monday’s post<\/a><\/span>) how exactly do you tell the time in Italian?<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Asking the time<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If you watched the video embedded in Monday’s blog, you’ll have noticed that the man on the scooter asks the contadino<\/strong>: mi scusi buon uomo \u2026 mi sa dire l\u2019ora per favore?<\/strong> (excuse good man \u2026 can you tell me the time please?).
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Mi sa dire l’ora<\/strong> is one of three common ways of asking what time it is. The other two, which are interchangeable, are che ora \u00e8?<\/strong><\/span> (singular<\/em>) and che ore sono?<\/strong><\/span> (plural<\/em>). Just use whichever you prefer.
\nBut before we can answer the question ‘che ore sono<\/strong>‘, we need to understand how to divide up the time.<\/p>\n

The time is divided into:<\/strong><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

ore<\/strong>\u00a0 = (fem.)<\/em> hours, singular un\u2019ora<\/strong>, an\/one hour<\/span><\/p>\n

minuti<\/strong> = (masc.)<\/em> minutes, singular un minuto<\/strong> a\/one minute<\/span><\/p>\n

secondi<\/strong> = (masc<\/em>.) seconds, singular un secondo<\/strong> a\/one second<\/span><\/p>\n

un quarto<\/strong> = (masc<\/em>.) a quarter<\/span><\/p>\n

mezza<\/strong> = (fem<\/em>.) half<\/span><\/p>\n

tre quarti<\/strong> = (masc<\/em>.) three quarters<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Get<\/a>

Get it?<\/em><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Telling someone the time<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Whether you are asked che ore sono?<\/strong>, che ora \u00e8?<\/strong> or mi sa dire l’ora?<\/strong>, the reply is always in the plural, ‘sono le …’<\/strong>, unless it happens to be mezzogiorno<\/strong> (midday) mezzanotte<\/strong> (midnight) or\u00a0 l\u2019una<\/strong> (one o\u2019clock), which are always in the singular. Let’s look at a few examples shall we?<\/span><\/p>\n

che ore sono?<\/strong> = what time is it?
\nsono le undici e un quarto<\/strong> = it’s a quarter past eleven
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

che ore sono?<\/strong> = what time is it?
\n\u00e8 mezzogiorno<\/strong> = (it\u2019s midday)<\/span><\/p>\n

mi sa dire l’ora?<\/strong> = can you tell me the time?
\n\u00e8 l’una<\/strong> = it’s one o’clock<\/p>\n

mi sa dire l’ora?<\/strong> = can you tell me the time?
\n\u00e8 l’una e dieci<\/strong> = it’s ten past one<\/p>\n

che ora \u00e8?<\/strong> = what time is it?
\nsono le due e mezza<\/strong> = it’s half past two<\/p>\n

che ora \u00e8?<\/strong> = what time is it?
\nsono le quattro meno dieci<\/strong> = it’s ten to four<\/p>\n

An alternative
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We frequently use the verb mancare<\/strong> <\/span>(to lack), as an alternative way of saying to<\/em><\/span>, as in, for example, five to<\/em> <\/span>four, or a quarter to<\/em> <\/span>six. Take a look at the following examples: <\/span><\/p>\n

manca un quarto alle due<\/strong> = it\u2019s a quarter to two (lit. \u2018it lacks a quarter until two\u2019<\/em>)
\nmanca cinque alle otto<\/strong> = it\u2019s five to eight (lit. it lacks five until eight\u2019<\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n

However, if we want to say \u2018it\u2019s five minutes<\/u> to eight\u2019 we use the plural \u2018mancano\u2019<\/strong> (lit. they are lacking<\/em>).
\ne.g.: mancano<\/strong> cinque<\/strong> minuti<\/u> alle otto<\/strong> = it’s five minutes to eight (lit. \u2018five minutes are lacking until eight\u2019<\/em>).<\/span><\/p>\n

The twenty four hour clock<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The twenty four hour clock is more formal, and is used for schedules such as train\/bus timetables or the opening hours of a shop. A timetable is called un orario<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are a couple of typical examples of timetables which you could encounter whilst in Italy: <\/span><\/p>\n

Orario Apertura: Mattina dalle 9.00 alle 12.30 Pomeriggio dalle 15.30 alle 20.00<\/strong> = Opening times: Morning from 9:00 until 12:30 Afternoon from 15:30 to 20:00
\nL\u2019autobus da Parma arriva alle sedici e venti<\/strong> = The bus from Parma arrives at sixteen twenty<\/span><\/p>\n

Do it yourself<\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

You’ve been asked either: che ore sono? che ora \u00e8?<\/strong> or mi sa dire l\u2019ora? <\/strong>Can you translate the following English replies into Italian?<\/span><\/p>\n

1. it\u2019s eight twenty five ________________<\/span><\/p>\n

2. it\u2019s a quarter past nine ________________<\/span><\/p>\n

3. it\u2019s twenty to eleven ________________<\/span><\/p>\n

4. it\u2019s half past noon\/midday ________________<\/span><\/p>\n

5. it\u2019s nine thirty five (give two possible variations) ________________\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ________________<\/span><\/p>\n

6. it\u2019s three forty (give three possible variations) ________________\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ________________\u00a0\u00a0 ________________<\/span><\/p>\n

Now translate the following timetable announcements using the 24 hour clock system
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

7. This shop will close at seven thirty p.m. Questo negozio sar\u00e0 chiuso<\/strong> ________________ <\/span><\/p>\n

8. The next train for Pisa departs at five twenty five p.m. Il prossimo treno per Pisa parte<\/strong> ________________ <\/span><\/p>\n

9. The bus from Lucca arrives at six thirty a.m. L\u2019autobus da Lucca arriva<\/strong> ________________ <\/span><\/p>\n


\nGeoff:<\/span><\/em> “che ore sono?”<\/strong> Serena:<\/em> “\u00e8 ora di pranzo!”<\/strong> = “it’s lunch time!” Geoff:<\/em> … a dopo cari lettori!<\/strong><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

So … if you don’t have a donkey (see Monday’s post) how exactly do you tell the time in Italian? Asking the time If you watched the video embedded in Monday’s blog, you’ll have noticed that the man on the scooter asks the contadino: mi scusi buon uomo \u2026 mi sa dire l\u2019ora per favore?…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":10796,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[619],"tags":[385976,385977],"class_list":["post-10792","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-italian-language","tag-che-ore-sono-italian","tag-what-time-is-it-in-italian"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t