Italian Phrase
Che ne dici alle sette?
Meaning
Literally “What do you say about it at seven?” It’s the common Italian way to propose meeting or doing something at 7 o’clock, similar to English “How about seven?” or “What do you think about meeting at seven?”
When to use
Use this informal phrase when you want to suggest a specific time for a plan, especially with friends, family, or colleagues you’re on a first‑name basis with. It works for both 7 am and 7 pm; context will make the meaning clear.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Chenediciallesette?
Che
Interrogative pronoun meaning “what” or “how about”. It introduces a suggestion or question.
ne
Pronoun that replaces a previously mentioned idea, roughly “of it/that”. In “Che ne dici…?” it means “what do you think about it?”
dici
Second‑person singular present of the verb *dire* (to say).
alle
Contraction of the preposition *a* (at) + the definite article *le* (the, feminine plural). Used before a time expression.
sette
The cardinal number “seven”. When used with *alle* it indicates the hour (7:00).
🗨In Conversation
Che ne dici alle sette?
How about at seven?
Perfetto, ci vediamo al bar alle sette.
Perfect, see you at the bar at seven.
✕Common Mistakes
Che dici alle sette?
Missing the pronoun *ne*; without it the sentence sounds like you’re asking “What do you say at seven?” instead of proposing a plan.
Che ne dici a le sette?
The article must contract with the preposition: *a le* → *alle*.
Che ne dici alle sette
In written Italian a question mark is required to signal the interrogative nature.
↔Alternatives
Ti va alle sette?
Does seven work for you?
Che ne pensi per le sette?
What do you think about seven?
Andiamo alle sette?
Shall we go at seven?
Cultural Tip
Italians love to keep plans flexible, so a phrase like “Che ne dici…?” is a polite way to float an idea without sounding demanding. When you hear *alle sette*, the time is usually understood in the 24‑hour format in written contexts, but in conversation people will infer whether it’s morning or evening from the activity (e.g., coffee vs dinner). Also, remember that *che ne* is essential; dropping the *ne* makes the sentence sound abrupt.