Italian Phrase
A che ora?
Meaning
Literally, “At what hour?” It is the standard way to ask the exact time of an event, appointment, or departure in Italian.
When to use
Use *A che ora?* whenever you need to know the scheduled time of something – a meeting, a train, a movie, a dinner reservation, etc. It works in both formal and informal contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Acheora
A (preposition)
The preposition *a* is used to indicate a point in time, equivalent to English 'at'.
che (interrogative)
*che* means 'what' when used in questions; it modifies the noun that follows.
ora (noun)
*ora* is a feminine noun meaning 'hour' or 'time'. In this phrase it functions as the object of the preposition.
Word order
In Italian, the preposition comes first, followed by the interrogative and the noun: *A che ora?*
🗨In Conversation
A che ora parte il treno per Firenze?
At what time does the train to Florence leave?
Parte alle otto e trenta.
It leaves at eight thirty.
✕Common Mistakes
In che ora parte il treno?
The preposition *in* is not used for points in time; use *a*.
A che ore è la riunione?
*Ora* is singular; the plural *ore* would change the meaning to 'hours'.
Che ora è la festa?
*Che ora è?* asks for the current clock time, not the time of an event.
↔Alternatives
A che ora è?
At what time is it?
A che ora ci vediamo?
At what time shall we meet?
A che ora inizia la lezione?
At what time does the lesson start?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, official timetables (trains, flights, cinema) use the 24‑hour clock, while friends usually speak in the 12‑hour format and rely on context for am/pm. Adding *di mattina*, *di pomeriggio*, *di sera* can clarify the period if needed.