Learning how to tell time in Italian is useful for everyday situations such as making appointments, reading schedules, and discussing daily routines.

Table of Contents

Italian time is usually written using numbers just like English, but the way it is spoken follows specific patterns.

Example:

7:37
Sono le sette e trentasette

This page explains how to read, write, and say time in Italian.

Asking the Time in Italian

To ask what time it is in Italian, you can say:

Che ore sono?

This literally means “What hours are they?”

Example response:

Sono le tre.

Meaning:

It is three o'clock.

Full Hours in Italian

When telling the time exactly on the hour, Italian uses the structure:

Sono le + number

Examples:

For 1:00, Italian uses a slightly different expression.

Example:

È l'una.

To express minutes past the hour, add e + minutes.

Examples:

3:10
Sono le tre e dieci

5:25
Sono le cinque e venticinque

7:37
Sono le sette e trentasette

This hour + minutes pattern is the most common way to say time in Italian.

Italian also has common expressions for 15 and 30 minutes.

Examples:

3:15
Sono le tre e un quarto

3:30
Sono le tre e mezza

When there are 15 minutes before the next hour, Italian uses meno un quarto.

Example:

3:45
Sono le quattro meno un quarto

This literally means “four minus a quarter.”

Two special words are used for 12:00.

Time	Italian
12:00 PM	mezzogiorno
12:00 AM	mezzanotte

Examples:

È mezzogiorno.

È mezzanotte.

Italian time can be written using the same numeric format used in English.

Examples:

7:00
12:30
18:45

Italy often uses the 24-hour clock in schedules, transportation, and formal settings.

Examples:

Time	Spoken
14:00	quattordici
18:30	diciotto e trenta

You can practice telling time in Italian using the interactive tools below.

Example: 7:37

Further reference: Treccani vocabulary entry for numero.