Italian Phrase
La mia prima lezione è alle 8 e mezza.
Meaning
This sentence means “My first lesson is at 8:30.” It states the time of a scheduled class, using the feminine noun ‘lezione’ and the ordinal ‘prima’ to indicate it’s the first of the day or series.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to tell someone the exact start time of your first class, tutorial, or any scheduled lesson. It works in both formal and informal contexts, such as speaking to a teacher, a classmate, or a friend.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lamiaprimalezioneèalle8emezza
Article + Possessive
‘La mia’ combines the definite article with the possessive adjective to agree in gender and number with ‘lezione’ (feminine singular).
Ordinal adjective
‘prima’ is the feminine form of the ordinal adjective meaning ‘first’; it must match the noun’s gender.
Verb ‘essere’
‘è’ is the third‑person singular present of ‘essere’, used here to link the subject with its time complement.
Time preposition ‘alle’
‘alle’ = a + le, used before feminine plural nouns (le ore) to indicate a specific hour.
Half‑hour expression
‘e mezza’ literally means ‘and half’; it follows the hour to indicate 30 minutes past.
🗨In Conversation
A che ora è la tua prima lezione?
What time is your first lesson?
La mia prima lezione è alle 8 e mezza.
My first lesson is at 8:30.
✕Common Mistakes
La mia prima lezione è a le 8 e mezza.
The preposition should be ‘alle’ (contraction of a + le) for feminine plural time expressions.
La mia prima lezione 8 e mezza.
You need the verb ‘è’ and the preposition ‘alle’ to link the time.
La mia prima lezione è alle 8 e mezzo.
When the hour is feminine (lezione), use ‘mezza’ not ‘mezzo’. ‘Mezzo’ is used with masculine nouns like ‘orologio’.
↔Alternatives
Il mio primo corso inizia alle 8:30.
My first course starts at 8:30.
La prima lezione comincia alle otto e mezza.
The first lesson begins at eight-thirty.
Ho la prima lezione alle otto e mezza.
I have the first lesson at eight-thirty.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, it’s common to specify the exact half‑hour using ‘e mezza’ (or ‘e trenta’). When you’re late, you might say ‘scusa il ritardo, sono arrivato alle 8 e 15’ – note the use of the preposition ‘alle’ before the hour. In northern regions, people sometimes say ‘otto e trenta’ instead of ‘otto e mezza.’