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Italian Phrase

Mi serve per le 5:45 del mattino.

/mi ˈsɛr.ve per le ˈt͡ʃin.kwe e kkwatˈtran.taˈt͡ʃin.kwe del matˈti.no/
Meaning"I need it for 5:45 in the morning."
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Meaning

This phrase literally translates to 'It serves me for 5:45 in the morning,' but it's the common way to express 'I need it for 5:45 AM.' The verb 'servire' (to serve/to be useful) is used impersonally with an indirect object pronoun ('mi' for 'to me') to indicate a need for an object or a specific time.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you need something to be ready or completed by a very specific, early morning deadline. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts when communicating a time-sensitive requirement, such as needing a report by a certain hour or an item delivered before dawn.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Miserveperle5:45delmattino

1

Mi serve

'Mi serve' is an impersonal construction meaning 'I need it' or 'It is useful to me.' 'Mi' is the indirect object pronoun ('to me'), and 'serve' is the third-person singular form of 'servire' (to serve/to be useful). It's used for needing things, not for needing to do something (which would be 'ho bisogno di').

2

per

The preposition 'per' indicates a deadline or a purpose. In this context, it means 'for' or 'by' a specific time, indicating when something needs to be completed or available.

3

le 5:45

In Italian, when stating a specific hour, you use the definite article 'le' (the feminine plural) before the number, as 'ora' (hour) is feminine and plural is implied for minutes. '5:45' is read as 'cinque e quarantacinque'.

4

del mattino

'Del mattino' means 'of the morning' and is used to specify AM hours, especially when using the 12-hour clock. It clarifies that the time is in the early part of the day.

🗨In Conversation

A

Quando ti serve la presentazione?

When do you need the presentation?

Mi serve per le 5:45 del mattino, prima della riunione.

I need it for 5:45 in the morning, before the meeting.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ho bisogno di questo per le 5:45 del mattino.

    While 'ho bisogno di' means 'I need,' it's typically used for abstract needs or when needing to do something. For needing an object or a specific time for an object/task, 'mi serve' is more natural and idiomatic in Italian.

  • Mi serve alle 5:45 del mattino.

    The preposition 'per' is used here to indicate a deadline or a 'by' time, meaning 'for' or 'by' that specific time. 'Alle' would mean 'at' that exact time, implying an event happening then, not a deadline.

↔Alternatives

  • Lo voglio per le 5:45.

    I want it for 5:45.

  • Devo averlo per le 5:45 del mattino.

    I must have it for 5:45 in the morning.

  • È necessario che sia pronto per le 5:45.

    It's necessary that it's ready by 5:45.

it

Cultural Tip

Italians are generally quite precise with time, especially in professional or scheduled contexts. Specifying 'del mattino' (in the morning) is crucial for clarity, as 'le 5:45' alone could be ambiguous (AM or PM) without context, although 'le 5:45' usually implies AM in a 12-hour context if not specified. Using the 24-hour clock (e.g., 'le 17:45' for 5:45 PM) is also very common and often preferred for clarity.