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Italian Phrase

Hai sentito quel tuono ieri sera?

/ai senˈti.to kwel ˈtwɔ.no ˈjɛ.ri ˈse.ra/
Meaning"Did you hear that thunder last night?"
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Meaning

The sentence asks the listener whether they heard the specific thunder that sounded the previous night. It combines a perfect‑tense question with a demonstrative adjective to point to a particular sound.

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When to use

Use this phrase when talking about a recent storm, sharing a memory of a dramatic thunderclap, or simply checking if someone noticed the weather event you both experienced.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Haisentitoqueltuonoierisera

1

Hai (avere)

Second‑person singular present of the auxiliary verb *avere*, used to form the passato prossimo.

2

sentito (sentire)

Past participle of *sentire* ‘to hear/feel’; together with *hai* it makes the perfect tense.

3

quel

Demonstrative adjective meaning ‘that’; it must agree in gender and number with the noun that follows.

4

tuono

Masculine singular noun meaning ‘thunder’; the object of the verb *sentire*.

5

ieri sera

A fixed temporal expression meaning ‘last night’; literally ‘yesterday evening’.

🗨In Conversation

A

Hai sentito quel tuono ieri sera?

Did you hear that thunder last night?

Sì, è stato davvero spaventoso! Non ho dormito molto.

Yes, it was really scary! I didn’t sleep much.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Hai sentito quella tuono ieri sera?

    Learners sometimes forget that *quel* must match the gender of *tuono*; using *quella* would be wrong here.

  • Hai sentita quel tuono ieri sera?

    The past participle must agree with the auxiliary *avere*, so it stays *sentito* regardless of the noun’s gender.

  • Hai sentito quel tuono sera ieri?

    The correct order is *ieri sera*; swapping to *sera ieri* sounds unnatural.

↔Alternatives

  • Hai udito quel tuono ieri sera?

    Did you hear that thunder last night?

  • Hai sentito il tuono ieri sera?

    Did you hear the thunder last night?

  • Hai sentito quel rumore di tuono ieri sera?

    Did you hear that thunderous noise last night?

it

Cultural Tip

In Italy, commenting on the weather is a common ice‑breaker. When you use *ieri sera*, you’re speaking in a colloquial, everyday register. Avoid overly formal alternatives like *la scorsa notte* unless you’re writing or speaking in a more literary context.