ora
/ˈo.ra/feminine
The Italian word for "hour" is ora.
ora is a feminine noun meaning a time period of sixty minutes. In some contexts, such as certain regional dialects or older literary styles, it can also function as an adverb meaning "now", acting as a synonym for adesso.
Meaning: time period of sixty minutes (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ora refers to an hour as a sixty-minute duration, it is also the standard word for "time" when referring to a specific moment or a period of time, such as when asking "What time is it?" The plural form of ora is ore.
Is it said differently in some regions?
As an adverb meaning "now", the use of ora is more common in certain regional dialects or older literary styles.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because ora is a feminine noun starting with a vowel, the indefinite article una is shortened to un' when used before it (e.g., un'ora).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable: /ˈo.ra/.
Did you know?
- The Italian word ora shares a deep ancestral root with the English word 'hour', both tracing back to the Ancient Greek word hṓra.
- In ancient Greek, the root of ora originally referred to a 'season' or 'time of day' before evolving into the precise sixty-minute hour we use today.
- In some Italian regions, saying che ora è? is the standard way to ask the time, but in others, you might hear che ore sono?, using the plural form of ora.
Examples in context
- È l'ora di punta.It's rush hour.This sentence is useful for describing rush hour using ora.Tatoeba #2814748 by Guybrush88, translation #2249237 by CK
- Io esco tra un'ora.I'm going out in an hour.This sentence is useful for saying you are leaving in an hour using ora.Tatoeba #2969467 by Guybrush88, translation #418359 by blay_paul
- Sarò lì tra un'ora.I'll be there in an hour.This sentence is useful for stating you will arrive in an hour using ora.Tatoeba #4860168 by Guybrush88, translation #2545496 by CK
- Scusate, che ora è?Excuse me, what is the time?
- 501 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Francesco are discussing a movie schedule.
- GiuliaA che ora inizia il film?At what hour does the movie start?
- FrancescoInizia tra un'ora esatta.It starts in exactly one hour.
- GiuliaAbbiamo ancora un'ora di tempo.We still have an hour of time.
- FrancescoSì, andiamo a bere qualcosa.Yes, let's go grab a drink.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hour” translations and entries ora, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ora, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
