Italian Phrase
L'attesa dura circa 15 minuti.
Meaning
The sentence tells someone that the waiting period lasts roughly fifteen minutes. It conveys an approximate duration rather than an exact time.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to inform a client, patient, or guest how long they can expect to wait – e.g., at a restaurant, a doctor's office, a train station, or while checking in at a hotel.
✦Grammar Breakdown
L'attesaduracirca15minuti
L'attesa (elided article)
The noun 'attesa' is feminine; the definite article 'la' elides to 'l'' before a vowel.
dura (verb durare)
Third‑person singular present of 'durare' meaning 'to last' or 'to endure'.
circa (preposition)
Means 'about, approximately' and is placed before the quantity it modifies.
15 (cardinal number)
Italian numbers are written as digits in informal contexts; spoken as 'quindici'.
minuti (plural noun)
Masculine plural of 'minuto' (minute); agrees with the number.
🗨In Conversation
Quanto tempo devo aspettare?
How long do I have to wait?
L'attesa dura circa 15 minuti.
The wait lasts about 15 minutes.
✕Common Mistakes
L'attesa è circa 15 minuti.
Use 'dura' or 'è di' to describe duration; 'è circa' is ungrammatical.
L'attesa circa dura 15 minuti.
The adverb 'circa' must precede the quantity, not the verb.
↔Alternatives
L'attesa è di circa 15 minuti.
The wait is about 15 minutes.
Ci vorranno circa 15 minuti di attesa.
It will take about 15 minutes of waiting.
Dovrai attendere circa 15 minuti.
You will have to wait about 15 minutes.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, giving an approximate waiting time is common and considered polite. Italians often use 'circa' to soften estimates, especially in service settings where exact timing can be unpredictable. Remember to keep a friendly tone; a smile goes a long way when delivering wait times.