Learning a new language is an adventure, especially when deciphering the many expressions related to time and date. Italian, with its melodic tones and expressive nuances, has a variety of such expressions that are essential for understanding and participating in everyday conversations. Here are some Italian expressions about time and date, complete with definitions and vivid examples.

Ora – Ora means hour or time in Italian. It’s used when asking or talking about the current or a specific time of day.

Che ora è? – What time is it?

Minuto – Much like in English, minuto refers to a minute and is used to discuss more precise segments of time.

Aspetta un minuto, per favore. – Wait a minute, please.

Secondo – Similar to minuto, secondo means second, and is used in timekeeping or to indicate a very short duration of time.

Un momento, ci vuole solo un secondo. – One moment, it will only take a second.

Giorno – This word means day, which can be used to refer to both the concept of a 24-hour period or daylight hours.

Il giorno dopo, abbiamo deciso di visitare il museo. – The day after, we decided to visit the museum.

Settimana – Referring to a week, settimana is used to discuss events or plans spanning seven days.

Vado in vacanza per una settimana. – I am going on holiday for a week.

Mese – This word stands for month and identifies one of the twelve periods into which a year is divided.

Il prossimo mese inizierò un nuovo lavoro. – Next month I will start a new job.

Anno – Anno means year, and it’s crucial for talking about age, anniversaries, or any date-related concept that extends beyond a month.

Ho vent’anni. – I am twenty years old.

Fra / Tra – Both fra and tra can be translated to ‘in’ when referring to a period of time into the future. They are interchangeable in this context.

Ci vediamo tra un’ora. – See you in an hour.

Adesso – Adesso means now and signifies the current moment.

Possiamo parlare adesso? – Can we talk now?

Subito – This translates to immediately and implies no delay in time.

Vieni qui subito! – Come here immediately!

Presto – Meaning soon, presto indicates something that will happen in the near future.

Spero di vederti presto. – I hope to see you soon.

Dopo – Signifying after, dopo is used when referring to something following in time or order.

Dopo cena, guardiamo un film? – After dinner, shall we watch a movie?

Prima – Meaning before, prima is used to describe an event that precedes another in time.

Prima di uscire, spegni la luce. – Before going out, turn off the light.

Ieri – This word designates yesterday and is a fundamental term for discussing past events.

Ieri sono andato al cinema. – Yesterday I went to the cinema.

Oggi – Referring to today, oggi is essential when making plans or discussing events occurring on the current day.

Oggi voglio restare a casa. – Today I want to stay home.

Domani – This means tomorrow, and it signifies the day following today.

Domani sarà una nuova giornata. – Tomorrow will be a new day.

Each of these words and phrases is an invaluable addition to your vocabulary when learning Italian. Understanding these expressions about time and date will help you navigate conversations more naturally and with confidence. As with any part of language learning, practice makes perfect, so try using these words as often as you can. Buono studio!