Italian Phrase
Di solito lavoro fino alle 17.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener that the speaker’s normal workday ends at five o’clock in the afternoon. It combines a habit marker (di solito) with a time expression (fino alle 17).
When to use
Use this phrase when you are describing your regular work schedule, comparing days, or answering a question about when you usually finish work.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Disolitolavorofinoalle17
Di solito
Adverbial phrase meaning ‘usually’; placed at the beginning of the sentence to modify the whole clause.
lavoro
First‑person singular present indicative of *lavorare* (to work).
fino a
Preposition meaning ‘until’; when followed by a definite article it contracts (fino + alle = fino alle).
alle
Contraction of *a* + *le*; used before feminine plural nouns, here the plural of the hour (*le ore*).
17
Numeric hour expressed in 24‑hour format; in spoken Italian you could also say *le cinque*.
🗨In Conversation
A che ora finisci di lavorare di solito?
What time do you usually finish work?
Di solito lavoro fino alle 17.
I usually work until 5 p.m.
✕Common Mistakes
Di solito lavoro fino a le 17.
The preposition *a* contracts with the article *le*; you must use the fused form *alle*.
Di solito lavoro fino 17.
When talking about hours you need the article *le* (or *le* after *fino* → *fino alle*).
Di solito lavoro fino alle 5.
If you switch to the 12‑hour clock, keep the article: *fino alle cinque* is correct, but avoid mixing 24‑hour and word forms in the same sentence.
↔Alternatives
Normalmente lavoro fino alle 17.
Normally I work until 5 p.m.
Generalmente lavoro fino alle 17.
Generally I work until 5 p.m.
Di solito finisco di lavorare alle 17.
I usually finish work at 5 p.m.
Cultural Tip
In most Italian offices the standard finish time is 5 p.m., but many companies have a long lunch break (pausa pranzo) that can push the end of the day to 6 or 7 p.m., especially in the south. When speaking, Italians often say *le cinque* instead of *alle 17*, but the written form with the 24‑hour clock is preferred in formal contexts.