Italian Phrase
A che ora inizi a lavorare?
Meaning
Literally, 'At what time do you start to work?'. It asks someone for the exact clock time they begin their workday, often used in professional or casual scheduling conversations.
When to use
Use this question when you need to coordinate meetings, plan a coffee break, or simply satisfy curiosity about a colleague’s daily routine. It’s common in office settings, job interviews, or when arranging a shared project timeline.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Acheorainizialavorare
A (preposition)
Used to indicate a point in time, equivalent to English 'at' when talking about clock time.
che ora
A fixed phrase meaning 'what time?'. 'Che' is the interrogative adjective and 'ora' means 'hour/time'.
inizi (iniziare)
Second‑person singular present of the verb 'iniziare' (to start).
a + infinitive
When 'iniziare' is followed by another verb, it requires the preposition 'a' before the infinitive.
lavorare (infinitive)
The infinitive form of the verb meaning 'to work'.
🗨In Conversation
A che ora inizi a lavorare?
What time do you start working?
Inizio alle otto di mattina.
I start at eight in the morning.
✕Common Mistakes
A che ora è inizi a lavorare?
Do not insert the verb 'essere' (è) before 'inizi'; the correct form is just 'inizi'.
A che ora inizi lavorare?
The verb 'iniziare' requires the preposition 'a' before another infinitive.
A che ore inizi a lavorare?
Use the singular 'ora' for 'time' in this construction; 'ore' is plural and changes the meaning.
↔Alternatives
A che ora cominci a lavorare?
At what time do you begin working?
Quando inizi a lavorare?
When do you start working?
A che ora inizi il lavoro?
What time do you start work?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, typical office hours start between 8:00 am and 9:00 am, but many companies have a flexible start time. Asking "A che ora inizi a lavorare?" shows respect for the other person's schedule and helps avoid the common Italian habit of arriving a few minutes late for meetings.