che ore sono
Telling Time
To ask the time, use Che ore sono? or Che ora è?. To answer, use Sono le + [number] for most hours, or È for 1:00, noon, and midnight.
How It Works
In Italian, telling time revolves around the noun ora (hour).
1. Asking the Time:
You can use either Che ore sono? (plural) or Che ora è? (singular). They are interchangeable, though the plural version is slightly more common in daily speech.
2. Stating the Hour:
- Plural Hours (2-12 or 2-24): Use Sono le + number. Example: Sono le tre (It is 3:00).
- One O'Clock: Use È l'una. We use the singular verb è and the elided article l' (from la).
- Noon and Midnight: Use È mezzogiorno (noon) or È mezzanotte (midnight). Note that no article is used here.
3. Adding Minutes:
- For minutes 1-30, use e (and): Sono le due e dieci (2:10).
- For the half-hour, use e mezzo or e mezza: Sono le cinque e mezza (5:30).
- For the quarter-hour, use e un quarto: Sono le sei e un quarto (6:15).
- For minutes 31-59, it is common to use meno (minus) to subtract from the next hour: Sono le otto meno venti (7:40).
4. 12 vs 24-hour Clock:
Italy uses the 24-hour clock for official schedules (trains, movies). In conversation, the 12-hour clock is used, often adding di mattina (morning), del pomeriggio (afternoon), or di sera (evening) if clarity is needed.
Examples (5)
- Scusi, che ore sono? — Sono le quattro.
Excuse me, what time is it? — It is four o'clock.
Word by Word: Excuse, what hours are they? — They are the four.
A standard plural question and answer for any hour above one.
- È l'una e un quarto.
It is 1:15.
Word by Word: It is the one and a quarter.
Use 'È l'una' for 1:00. 'Un quarto' is the standard way to say 15 minutes.
- Sono le dieci meno cinque.
It is five to ten (9:55).
Word by Word: They are the ten minus five.
Using 'meno' is the standard way to express time in the second half of the hour.
- È mezzogiorno e mezza.
It is 12:30 PM (half past noon).
Word by Word: It is midday and half.
Mezzogiorno does not take an article. You can use 'mezza' or 'mezzo' for the half-hour.
- Il treno parte alle sedici e trenta.
The train leaves at 16:30 (4:30 PM).
Word by Word: The train departs at the sixteen and thirty.
Official schedules use the 24-hour format. Note the use of 'alle' to say 'at' a specific time.
Common Mistakes
Omitting the definite article 'le' before the hour.
Sono due.Sono le due.In Italian, you must include the feminine plural article 'le' because it refers to the word 'ore' (hours).
Using the plural verb 'sono' with 1:00, noon, or midnight.
Sono l'una.È l'una.Since 1:00, noon (mezzogiorno), and midnight (mezzanotte) are singular concepts, you must use the singular verb 'è'.
Confusing 'Che ore sono?' with 'A che ora?'.
Che ore sono parte il treno?A che ora parte il treno?'Che ore sono?' asks what time it is NOW. 'A che ora...?' asks 'At what time' an event happens.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To tell the time in Italian, you need to be familiar with the verb 'essere' to form the sentence, cardinal numbers to state the hour, and definite articles which always precede the time.
Related Patterns
- Definite Articles
The article 'le' is mandatory when stating the time for hours 2-24.
Level 1 - Elision
Explains why 'la una' becomes 'l'una'.
Level 1 - a / verso + Clock TimePrepositions for Clock Time (A/verso)
Explains how to say 'at' or 'around' a certain time using prepositions.
Level 1 - Articulated Prepositions in Time Expressions
Explains how 'a + le' becomes 'alle' when talking about scheduled events.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Sources
Practice che ore sono in Bubblegum
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