Italian: Tell Time and Talk Schedules (ora vs adesso)
Learn to say clock times and schedule events with a, da and fino a, and finally understand when to use ora versus adesso in everyday Italian.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In Italian, telling time and talking about schedules uses the verb essere and prepositions like a, da and fino a. This lesson gives you the exact patterns for saying when something starts, how long it lasts and when it ends. It also answers a common question: ora and adesso both relate to time, but they are not interchangeable. You will learn the direct difference and practice with realistic examples so you can ask staff about opening hours and make simple plans.
By the end, you can…
- tell the time and say when an event starts, using a with clock times.
- distinguish and correctly use ora and adesso in everyday sentences.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Che ore sono?
What time is it?
keh OH-reh SOH-noh
Standard way to ask the time. Use it with friends, family or strangers in casual contexts.
La lezione inizia alle nove.
The class starts at nine.
lah leh-TSYOH-neh ee-NEE-tsah AL-leh NOH-veh
Use a + le for 'at' with most clock times. Alle is the contraction of a + le.
Il museo è aperto dalle nove alle sei.
The museum is open from nine to six.
eel moo-ZEH-oh eh ah-PEHR-toh DAL-leh NOH-veh AL-leh SEH-ee
Use da...a to express from...to. Dalle and alle are common contractions.
Lavoro fino alle cinque.
I work until five.
lah-VOH-roh FEE-noh AL-leh CHEEN-kweh
Fino a means 'until'. Use it to say when an activity ends.
Adesso non posso, ma alle tre sì.
I can't right now, but at three I can.
ah-DEHS-soh nohn POHS-soh mah AL-leh treh see
Adesso means 'right now, at this moment'. It contrasts with a specific later time.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To tell the time, use essere: È l'una (It's one o'clock), Sono le due (It's two o'clock). For 'at' a time, use a: alle due (at two), alle nove e mezza (at half past nine). For 'from...to', use da...a: dalle due alle quattro (from two to four). For 'until', use fino a: fino alle sei (until six). These patterns let you schedule anything: Il treno parte alle sette e un quarto (The train leaves at quarter past seven). Resto fino alle otto (I'm staying until eight).
When to use it
Use ora and adesso to mean 'now', but they are not always the same. Adesso is the everyday adverb for 'right now, at this moment': Adesso studio (I'm studying right now). Ora can also mean 'now', especially in slightly more formal or written Italian: Ora è troppo tardi (Now it's too late). But ora also means 'hour' as a noun: Ho bisogno di un'ora (I need an hour). In questions like Che ora è? (What time is it?), ora means 'hour/time'. So: adesso = now (adverb); ora = now (adverb, often interchangeable) or hour (noun). Context tells you which. Use adesso for immediate actions; use ora when you mean the current moment in a more neutral or formal way, or when you mean 'hour'.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Scusi, che ore sono?
Excuse me, what time is it?SKOO-zee keh OH-reh SOH-nohSono le tre e mezza. Adesso devo andare, ma il negozio è aperto fino alle sette.
It's half past three. I have to go now, but the shop is open until seven.SOH-noh leh treh eh MEH-tsah ah-DEHS-soh DEH-voh ahn-DAH-reh mah eel neh-GOH-tsyoh eh ah-PEHR-toh FEE-noh AL-leh SEHT-tehGrazie. E domani apre dalle nove?
Thanks. And tomorrow does it open from nine?GRAH-tsyeh eh doh-MAH-nee AH-preh DAL-leh NOH-vehSì, dalle nove alle dodici e mezza. Ora devo proprio scappare. A presto!
Yes, from nine to half past twelve. I really have to run now. See you soon!see DAL-leh NOH-veh AL-leh doh-DEE-chee eh MEH-tsah OH-rah DEH-voh PROH-pryoh skah-PAH-reh ah PREHS-tohA little context goes a long way
In Italy, both ora and adesso are common in speech, but adesso is more frequent in casual conversation for 'right now'. Ora can sound slightly more formal or literary when used as an adverb, and it is the normal noun for 'hour'. When asking for the time, Che ore sono? is standard; Che ora è? is also correct but less common in everyday talk. Use these naturally with shopkeepers or colleagues.
One thing to watch for
Using adesso to mean 'hour' or 'time' in questions like *Che adesso è?
Try this instead: For 'What time is it?' say Che ore sono? or Che ora è? Use adesso only for 'now': Adesso sono le tre (Now it's three o'clock). Ora can mean 'now' or 'hour', so context matters.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'The film starts at eight'?
Show a sample answer
Il film inizia alle otto.
Use a + le for 'at' with plural hours. Alle is the contraction of a + le. You could also say 'comincia' instead of 'inizia'.
2Translate: 'I'm busy right now.'
Show a sample answer
Adesso sono occupato. (or occupata if the speaker is female)
Adesso is the natural choice for 'right now'. Ora would also be understood, but adesso is more common in this immediate sense.
3What does 'ora' mean in 'Ho bisogno di un'ora'?
Show a sample answer
It means 'hour'.
Here ora is a noun meaning 'hour'. It is not the adverb 'now'. The context 'un'ora' (an hour) makes this clear.
Use a for clock times, da...a for from...to, and fino a for until. Remember: adesso means 'now' as an adverb; ora can mean 'now' or 'hour' depending on context. Practice with real schedules to make it automatic.
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