How to Say “Bedtime” in Italian

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ora di andare a letto
/ˈo.ra di anˈda.re a ˈlɛt.to/word by word
The English phrase 'bedtime' is translated into Italian as ora di andare a letto.
ora di andare a letto is used to describe the time when one goes to bed to sleep.
Meaning: time when one goes to bed to sleep (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase ora di andare a letto literally translates to 'hour of going to bed'.

Which one should you use?

You may use l'ora di coricarsi for a more formal or literary tone or the casual expression Andare a nanna to convey the idea of 'going to bed'.

How does it change in a sentence?

When you are referring to a specific bedtime, such as 'the bedtime is 8 PM', you should add the definite article l’ to the front of the word ora, resulting in l'ora di andare a letto.

How do you pronounce it?

The pronunciation is /ˈo.ra di anˈda.re a ˈlɛt.to/. It has 6 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.

Did you know?

  • The word ora has a surprising historical doublet in the word aura, meaning a 'breeze' or 'soft wind'.
  • The word nanna in andare a nanna is an example of baby talk, which is so common that adults occasionally use it with romantic partners to create a sense of intimacy.

Examples in context

  • È tardi, andiamo a nanna.
    It's late, let's go to bed.
  • Mi preparo ad andare a dormire.
    I'm getting ready to go to sleep.
  • È il momento di riposarsi.
    It's time to rest/go to bed.
  • I bambini vanno a letto alle nove di sera. È l'orario della nanna.
    Children go to bed at nine in the evening. It's bedtime.
  • Mi preparo ad andare a dormire presto, domani ho una lunga giornata.
    I'm getting ready to go to sleep early, tomorrow I have a long day.
  • È tardi, andiamo tutti a nanna!
    It's late, let's all go to bed!
  • È quasi l'ora di andare a letto.
    It is almost bedtime.

Example conversation

A parent is talking to a child in the bedroom.

  1. Francesco

    Giulia, è l'ora di andare a letto.
    Giulia, it's bedtime.
  2. Giulia

    Ancora cinque minuti, per favore!
    Five more minutes, please!
  3. Francesco

    No, devi dormire per domani.
    No, you need to sleep for tomorrow.
  4. Giulia

    Va bene, vado subito.
    Alright, I'm going now.

Sources

  • IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ora, di, andare, a, letto) and can differ in connected speech.
  • Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, andare, di, ora, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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Ida Vivian
Ida VivianHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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