Italian · Time, Numbers & Colors
"Hour" in Italian: ora
l'ora
Hour in Italian is l'ora (OH-rah), a feminine noun. Che ora è? asks what time is it. Tra un'ora means in an hour. Plural is le ore. Opening hours are orari.
On the street
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How to pronounce ora
Say it
OH-rah
/ˈo.ra/
Ora stresses OH: OH-rah. The article is l'. Keep both vowels clear and short.
"Hour" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| l'ora | the hour; the time Clock time and duration unit. | Clock time and duration unit. |
| che ora è? | what time is it? Everyday time question. | Everyday time question. |
| tra un'ora | in an hour From now, sixty minutes later. | From now, sixty minutes later. |
| di ora in ora | any time now; hour by hour Expecting something soon. | Expecting something soon. |
How to use ora in real life
- 1On the street
Scusa, che ora è?
Excuse me, what time is it?
Che ora è is the classic question.
- 2Meeting delay
Arrivo tra due ore circa.
I'll arrive in about two hours.
Plural ore for counted hours.
- 3Workday length
Lavoro otto ore al giorno.
I work eight hours a day.
Plural ore for counted hours.
Mistakes English speakers make with ora
Incorrect: Il ora è tardi.
Correct: L'ora è tarda. / È tardi.
Ora is feminine and needs l'. For lateness, è tardi is more natural.
Incorrect: Che ora sono?
Correct: Che ora è?
Use singular è in the set question che ora è?
Good to know
Italians often use the 24-hour clock in writing (18:30) and still say le sette e mezza in speech. Un'ora di punta is rush hour, when buses and trams fill fast.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Timing a museum visit before closing
ChatPal
Che ora è adesso?
What time is it now?
You
Sono le cinque. Abbiamo un'ora.
It's five. We have an hour.
ChatPal
Perfetto. Tra un'ora chiudono.
Perfect. They close in an hour.
You
Allora ogni ora conta. Andiamo.
Then every hour counts. Let's go.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Hour" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Hour" in Italian
Is ora feminine?
Yes: l'ora, un'ora, le ore.
How do I ask the time?
Che ora è? or Che ore sono?
How do I say in an hour?
Tra un'ora.
What are orari?
Schedules or opening hours (orari di apertura).
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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