Italian Time Markers with the Future: domani, la settimana prossima, presto
Learn to say tomorrow, next week and soon in Italian and combine them with future forms, so you can make real plans like Ci vediamo la settimana prossima.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Italian often signals the future with a time expression rather than a heavy verb ending, especially in speech. In this lesson you will learn three high-frequency time markers — domani (tomorrow), la settimana prossima (next week) and presto (soon) — and see how they work with the future tense and with the common present-tense-as-future pattern. You will practise word order, the preposition la, and the difference between fra/tra and the simple markers, so you can talk about plans naturally.
By the end, you can…
- say tomorrow, next week and soon in Italian with correct pronunciation.
- build simple future sentences using domani, la settimana prossima and presto.
- choose between the future tense and the present tense for near-future plans.
- ask and answer a simple question about when something will happen.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ci vediamo la settimana prossima.
I'll see you next week. / See you next week.
chee veh-DYAH-mo la set-tee-MAH-na PROS-see-ma
The most natural way to arrange a future meeting in everyday Italian. The present tense ci vediamo does the work of the future.
Domani vado a Roma.
Tomorrow I'm going to Rome.
doh-MAH-nee VAH-doh a ROH-ma
A fixed plan. Italian commonly uses the present tense for a near, definite future event.
Domani andrò a Roma.
Tomorrow I will go to Rome.
doh-MAH-nee an-DROH a ROH-ma
The future tense andrò is correct and slightly more formal or emphatic. Both versions are standard.
Ti chiamo presto.
I'll call you soon.
tee KYAH-mo PRES-toh
Presto means soon, not early. For early in the morning, Italian uses presto too, but the context makes the meaning clear.
La settimana prossima parto per Milano.
Next week I'm leaving for Milan.
la set-tee-MAH-na PROS-see-ma PAR-toh per mee-LAH-no
Prossima follows the noun and agrees with settimana, which is feminine. Do not say la prossima settimana in this fixed phrase, though it is also acceptable in other positions.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is time marker + verb. Italian places domani and presto at the start or end of the sentence: Domani lavoro. / Lavoro domani. For next week, use la settimana prossima, with the definite article la: La settimana prossima studio italiano. The adjective prossima agrees with the noun: la settimana prossima, il mese prossimo, l'anno prossimo. You can also use fra/tra for a distance in time: fra una settimana (in a week), tra due giorni (in two days). Note that fra and tra are interchangeable in modern standard Italian.
When to use it
Use domani for the day after today, la settimana prossima for the following calendar week, and presto for an unspecified near moment. In conversation, Italians often prefer the present tense with these markers: Domani ti scrivo. (I'll write to you tomorrow.) The future tense, ti scriverò, is also correct and adds emphasis or formality. Use the future tense more readily in writing, in formal contexts, or when the event is further away: L'anno prossimo andrò in Italia. Avoid using presto to mean early in a schedule; for that, use presto or di buon'ora, but the meaning depends on context.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Ciao Marco! Ci vediamo la settimana prossima?
Hi Marco! Shall we see each other next week?CHOW MAR-koh! chee veh-DYAH-mo la set-tee-MAH-na PROS-see-maSì, volentieri. Domani parto per Firenze, ma torno presto.
Yes, gladly. Tomorrow I'm leaving for Florence, but I'll be back soon.see, vo-len-TYEH-ree. doh-MAH-nee PAR-toh per fee-REN-tseh, mah TOR-noh PRES-tohPerfetto. Allora ti chiamo la settimana prossima.
Perfect. Then I'll call you next week.per-FET-toh. al-LOH-rah tee KYAH-mo la set-tee-MAH-na PROS-see-maVa bene. A presto!
All right. See you soon!vah BEH-neh. ah PRES-tohA little context goes a long way
A presto is a standard, friendly goodbye meaning see you soon; it works in person, on the phone and in messages. In northern Italy you may also hear a dopo or a domani as casual leave-takings. La settimana prossima is neutral and widely understood; in some regions people say la settimana che viene, but it is less common in everyday standard Italian.
One thing to watch for
Using the future tense after quando in a question: Quando andrai? is fine, but learners often say Quando tu andrai? with an unnecessary subject pronoun, or use the future where Italian prefers the present: Quando parti domani?
Try this instead: Italian usually omits subject pronouns and often uses the present for scheduled near-future events. Say Quando parti domani? (When are you leaving tomorrow?) or, if you want the future, Quando partirai? Both are correct; the present is more conversational.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Translate: See you next week.
Show a sample answer
Ci vediamo la settimana prossima.
This uses the present tense ci vediamo with the time marker la settimana prossima. Ci vedremo la settimana prossima is also correct and slightly more formal.
2Which is more natural in conversation for a fixed plan tomorrow: Domani vado al mare or Domani andrò al mare?
Show a sample answer
Domani vado al mare.
For a near, definite plan, the present tense is very common in speech. Domani andrò al mare is also correct and sounds a little more formal or emphatic.
3Complete with the correct form: La settimana prossima noi ___ (partire) per la Sicilia.
Show a sample answer
La settimana prossima partiamo per la Sicilia.
The present tense partiamo is natural for a planned departure. La settimana prossima partirò/partiremo is also correct if you want the future tense.
Use domani, la settimana prossima and presto as your future signals, and remember that Italian often keeps the verb in the present for near plans: Ci vediamo la settimana prossima.
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