Italian Phrase
Il duty-free apre alle 6 del mattino.
Meaning
This phrase informs someone about the opening time of a duty-free shop. 'Duty-free' refers to a store where goods are sold without import taxes, often found in international airports or ports. 'Apre alle' means 'opens at', followed by the specific time.
When to use
You would typically use this phrase when traveling, especially at an airport or port, to inquire about or state the opening hours of a duty-free shop. It's useful for planning your shopping before a flight or ferry departure, particularly for early morning travel.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ilduty-freeaprealle6del mattino
Il (The)
'Il' is the masculine singular definite article in Italian, meaning 'the'. Although 'duty-free' is an English loanword, it's commonly treated as masculine in Italian.
duty-free
This is an English loanword widely used in Italian to refer to shops selling goods without taxes, typically found in international travel hubs.
apre (opens)
'Apre' is the third-person singular present tense of the verb 'aprire' (to open). It's used here to indicate the action of opening.
alle (at the)
'Alle' is a contraction of 'a' (at) + 'le' (the, feminine plural). It's used before feminine plural numbers or hours, like 'alle 6' (at 6 o'clock) or 'alle otto' (at eight).
6 (sei)
This is the number six. When stating a specific hour, it's preceded by 'alle' (for feminine plural hours) or 'all'' (before a vowel, e.g., 'all'una' for 1 o'clock).
del mattino (in the morning)
'Del mattino' means 'in the morning' and is used to specify the part of the day for a given time. It's a contraction of 'di' (of) + 'il' (the) + 'mattino' (morning).
🗨In Conversation
Scusi, a che ora apre il duty-free?
Excuse me, what time does the duty-free open?
Il duty-free apre alle 6 del mattino.
The duty-free opens at 6 AM.
✕Common Mistakes
La duty-free apre a 6 del mattino.
While 'duty-free' is a foreign word, in Italian, it's commonly treated as masculine, so use 'Il' (the) instead of 'La'. Also, 'a 6' is incorrect; use 'alle 6' for 'at 6 o'clock'.
Il duty-free è aperto alle 6 del mattino.
While grammatically correct, 'è aperto' means 'is open'. To state the specific opening action/time, 'apre' (opens) is more precise and natural. 'È aperto' would be used to describe its state of being open, e.g., 'Il duty-free è aperto adesso' (The duty-free is open now).
Il duty-free apre alle sei di mattina.
While 'di mattina' is understandable, 'del mattino' is the more common and standard way to say 'in the morning' when specifying a time, especially in formal or general statements.
↔Alternatives
A che ora apre il duty-free?
What time does the duty-free open?
Il negozio duty-free sarà aperto dalle 6.
The duty-free shop will be open from 6.
L'apertura del duty-free è prevista per le 6.
The opening of the duty-free is scheduled for 6.
Cultural Tip
Duty-free shopping is a common part of international travel, and knowing opening times is crucial for many travelers. Italians are generally punctual, and stating specific times like 'alle 6 del mattino' (at 6 in the morning) is precise. While 'duty-free' is an English loanword, it's widely understood and used in Italy, often treated as a masculine noun.