Italian Phrase
Di solito ceniamo alle 19.
Meaning
‘We usually have dinner at 7 p.m.’ The sentence expresses a habitual routine, indicating the typical time the speaker’s household sits down for the evening meal.
When to use
Use this sentence when talking about your regular dinner schedule, comparing it with a friend’s routine, or setting a meeting time that coincides with your usual dinner hour.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Disolitoceniamoalle19
Di solito
An adverbial phrase meaning 'usually' or 'normally'. It does not change form and is placed before the verb or at the start of the sentence.
ceniamo
First‑person plural present indicative of the verb *cenare* (to have dinner). The ending -iamo marks we/our.
alle
Contraction of *a le* used before feminine plural nouns or clock times; here it introduces the hour.
19
The 24‑hour clock is standard in Italy for formal schedules; *le 19* corresponds to 7 p.m.
🗨In Conversation
Di solito ceniamo alle 19.
We usually have dinner at 7 p.m.
Perfetto, allora ci vediamo alle 19.
Perfect, then we’ll meet at 7 p.m.
✕Common Mistakes
Di solito ceniamo a le 19.
The correct contraction is *alle* (a + le). Using *a le* sounds unnatural.
Di solito ceniamo alle 7.
When you use the 24‑hour clock you keep the hour as a number; mixing 24‑hour and 12‑hour formats can be confusing.
Solito ceniamo alle 19.
The adverbial phrase is *di solito*, never just *solito* on its own.
↔Alternatives
Di solito mangiamo la cena alle 19.
We usually eat dinner at 7 p.m.
Generalmente ceniamo alle 19.
Generally we have dinner at 7 p.m.
Di solito ceniamo verso le 19.
We usually dine around 7 p.m.
Cultural Tip
In many parts of Italy dinner is later than in Anglo‑Saxon countries, often around 8‑9 p.m., especially in the south. A 7 p.m. dinner is typical in the north and in families with children or work schedules that end earlier. When arranging meetings, Italians may ask if the time is before or after dinner to avoid conflict with family meals.