How to Ask Where the Swimming Pool Is in Italian
Learn to ask 'Dov'è la piscina?' in Italian, understand opening hours, and use polite phrases at a public swimming pool.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
If you want to swim in Italy, the first thing you need is the right question. In this lesson you will learn how to ask where the public swimming pool is, how to ask about opening hours, and how to understand the answer. You will practise the key phrase 'Dov'è la piscina?' and the words for today, opening and closing times. The focus is on real, spoken Italian you can use at the entrance or with a local person.
By the end, you can…
- ask where the public swimming pool is in Italian.
- ask what time the pool opens and closes.
- understand simple answers about opening hours.
- use polite words when asking a stranger for help.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Dov'è la piscina?
Where is the swimming pool?
doh-VEH lah pee-SHEE-nah
The most direct question. Use it when you are already in a town or neighbourhood and need directions.
Scusi, c'è una piscina qui vicino?
Excuse me, is there a swimming pool near here?
SKOO-zee, cheh OO-nah pee-SHEE-nah kwee vee-CHEE-noh
Polite and natural with a stranger. 'Scusi' is the formal 'excuse me'. Use this when you are not sure a pool exists nearby.
A che ora apre la piscina?
What time does the pool open?
ah keh OH-rah AH-preh lah pee-SHEE-nah
Use at the entrance or on the phone. 'Apre' means 'opens'.
A che ora chiude?
What time does it close?
ah keh OH-rah KYOO-deh
Short and common once the topic is already the pool. 'Chiude' means 'closes'.
È aperta oggi?
Is it open today?
eh ah-PEHR-tah OHD-jee
Useful because public pools may close on Mondays or for maintenance. 'Aperta' agrees with the feminine noun 'piscina'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 'Dov'è + place?'. 'Dov'è' is the contraction of 'dove' (where) and 'è' (is). Examples: 'Dov'è la piscina?' (Where is the pool?), 'Dov'è la fermata?' (Where is the stop?), 'Dov'è l'ingresso?' (Where is the entrance?). For plural places, use 'Dove sono': 'Dove sono le piscine?' (Where are the pools?). The noun 'piscina' is feminine, so it takes 'la': 'la piscina'. If you need to say 'a public pool', say 'una piscina comunale'.
When to use it
Use 'Dov'è la piscina?' when you are already nearby and want a direct answer. Use 'Scusi, c'è una piscina qui vicino?' when you are asking a stranger and you do not know if a pool exists. For hours, ask 'A che ora apre?' and 'A che ora chiude?'. If someone answers with a time, listen for 'alle' before the hour: 'Apre alle sette' (It opens at seven). 'È aperta oggi?' is the natural way to check if the pool is open today. Note that 'alle venti' is the 24-hour clock reading of 8 p.m.; in everyday speech many people say 'alle otto di sera' instead.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Scusi, c'è una piscina qui vicino?
Excuse me, is there a swimming pool near here?SKOO-zee, cheh OO-nah pee-SHEE-nah kwee vee-CHEE-nohSì, la piscina comunale è in via Roma, a due minuti a piedi.
Yes, the public pool is on Via Roma, a two-minute walk away.see, lah pee-SHEE-nah koh-moo-NAH-leh eh een VEE-ah ROH-mah, ah DOO-eh mee-NOO-tee ah PYEH-deeGrazie. A che ora apre e a che ora chiude?
Thank you. What time does it open and what time does it close?GRAH-tsee-eh. ah keh OH-rah AH-preh eh ah keh OH-rah KYOO-dehApre alle sette e chiude alle venti. È aperta oggi.
It opens at seven and closes at eight in the evening. It is open today.AH-preh AL-leh SEHT-teh eh KYOO-deh AL-leh VEN-tee. eh ah-PEHR-tah OHD-jeeA little context goes a long way
In Italy, 'piscina comunale' means a public pool run by the local council, while 'piscina privata' is private. Many pools require a swimming cap ('cuffia') and may ask for a medical certificate for certain activities. Opening hours often use the 24-hour clock in writing, but people say 'sette' for 7 a.m. and 'venti' or 'otto di sera' for 8 p.m. In northern and central Italy, 'piscina' is standard; regional accents vary, but the word is the same.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Dove è la piscina?' with a full 'dove' in fast speech, or using 'dove' when you mean 'where is it?' after the topic is known.
Try this instead: In everyday speech, 'Dov'è la piscina?' is the natural contraction. After the pool is already the topic, you can simply ask 'Dov'è?' (Where is it?). Both 'Dove è' and 'Dov'è' are correct, but 'Dov'è' is more common in conversation.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask a stranger if there is a swimming pool near here?
Show a sample answer
Scusi, c'è una piscina qui vicino?
This uses the polite 'Scusi' and the question 'c'è' (is there). 'Dov'è la piscina?' is also correct, but it asks where a known pool is rather than whether one exists nearby.
2How do you ask what time the pool opens?
Show a sample answer
A che ora apre la piscina?
'A che ora' means 'at what time', and 'apre' means 'opens'. You can also say 'A che ora apre?' if the pool is already the topic.
3Someone says 'Chiude alle venti.' What does that mean?
Show a sample answer
It closes at 8 p.m.
'Chiude' means 'closes', and 'alle venti' is 20:00 in the 24-hour clock, which is 8 p.m. In speech, some people may say 'alle otto di sera' instead.
Remember the key question 'Dov'è la piscina?' and the hours pair 'A che ora apre?' and 'A che ora chiude?'. Add 'Scusi' for politeness and 'È aperta oggi?' to check today's opening.
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