Che ore sono? How to tell the time in Italian

What time is it? A question which seems so simple to answer in your native language can cause a few problems in a new language! But not to worry, with a bit of practice, you’ll pick it up easily. Find out how to tell the time in Italian in this episode.

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Today's words
Che ore sono? = What time is it?

Hours
Sono le otto = it’s eight o’clock (literally: they are the eight)
Sono le nove = it’s nine o’clock (literally: they are the nine)
Sono le dieci = it’s ten o’clock (literally: they are the ten)

Minutes past
Sono le otto e dieci = it’s ten past eight (literally: they are the eight and ten)
Sono le otto e venti = it’s twenty past eight (literally: they are the eight and twenty)
Sono le otto e venticinque = it’s twenty past eight (literally: they are the eight and twenty-five)
Sono le otto e un quarto = it’s quarter past eight/eight fifteen
Sono le otto e mezza = it’s half past eight/eight thirty

Minutes to
Sono le nove meno dieci = it’s ten to nine (literally: they are the nine minus ten)
Sono le nove meno venti = it’s twenty to nine (literally: they are the nine minus twenty)
Sono le nove meno un quarto = it’s quarter to nine