Italian · Time, Numbers & Colors
"Early" in Italian: presto
presto
Early in Italian is presto (PREH-stoh). You get up early with mi alzo presto, and arrive early with arrivo presto. It also means soon in other contexts.
Morning routine
Domani mi alzo presto per il treno.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce presto
Say it
PREH-stoh
/ˈprɛ.sto/
PREH-stoh, stress on PREH. Keep both syllables; do not swallow the o.
"Early" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| presto | early; soon Time adverb: early in the day, or soon. | Time adverb: early in the day, or soon. |
| di buon'ora | early (early hour) Stronger early-in-the-morning feel. | Stronger early-in-the-morning feel. |
| troppo presto | too early When timing is wrong. | When timing is wrong. |
| alzarsi presto | to get up early Morning routines. | Morning routines. |
How to use presto in real life
- 1Morning routine
Domani mi alzo presto per il treno.
Tomorrow I'm getting up early for the train.
Presto with alzarsi.
- 2Meeting a friend
Arrivo presto, verso le otto.
I'll arrive early, around eight.
Presto as early arrival.
- 3At a café
È troppo presto per un caffè doppio?
Is it too early for a double coffee?
Troppo presto for timing jokes.
Mistakes English speakers make with presto
Incorrect: Mi alzo early.
Correct: Mi alzo presto.
Use presto, not the English word early.
Incorrect: Arrivo precoce al cinema.
Correct: Arrivo presto al cinema.
Precoce means premature. For early arrival, say presto.
Good to know
Many Italian shops open late by northern-European standards, so arriving presto can mean beating the queue. Breakfast culture is light, but trains and exams still push people to alzarsi presto.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Planning a dawn market visit
ChatPal
Se andiamo presto, troviamo il banco migliore.
If we go early, we'll find the best stall.
You
Ok, mi alzo presto. A che ora usciamo?
Ok, I'll get up early. What time do we leave?
ChatPal
Alle sette. Non è troppo presto per te?
At seven. Is that too early for you?
You
No, vado presto volentieri se c'è il pane caldo.
No, I'll gladly go early if there's warm bread.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Early" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Early" in Italian
Does presto only mean early?
No. Presto also means soon, as in a presto. Context decides.
How do I say I get up early?
Mi alzo presto.
What is the opposite of presto?
For late, use tardi: arrivo tardi.
Is di buon'ora the same?
Similar, but more like at an early hour—often stronger than plain presto.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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