Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| alba | /ˈal.ba/ | feminine |
| levar del sole | masculine | |
| levata del sole | feminine | |
| aurora | /awˈrɔ.ra/ | feminine |
| primo sole | /ˈpri.mo ˈso.le/ (word by word) | masculine |
| sorgere del sole | masculine |
While many terms exist, alba is the most common and standard word for the time of day or the event of sunrise.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase sorgere del sole is a literal description of the sun's rising, using the verb sorgere (to rise/emerge).
Which one should you use?
Alba is the most common and standard word for the sunrise. In contrast, aurora refers more specifically to the light of the dawn and is often used in a poetic or literary context rather than in everyday conversation. The phrase sorgere del sole acts as a literal description of the phenomenon, while levar del sole and levata del sole also describe the rising of the sun. The term primo sole is another way to refer to the sunrise.
How does it change in a sentence?
When saying 'at sunrise', the preposition a combines with the article l' to form all'alba.
How do you pronounce it?
{'ipa': '/ˈal.ba/', 'syllables': 2, 'stressed_syllable': '1 of 2'}
When do people say it?
Alba (sunrise) is the direct antonym of tramonto (sunset) when describing the start and end of the day.
Did you know?
- The word alba is actually a linguistic evolution of the Latin word albus, which means 'white'.
- In Italy, the phrase all'alba is frequently used as a shorthand to describe the very earliest possible start time for work or travel, regardless of the actual clock time.
- The term alba is also used in Italian to describe the very beginning of a historical era or a person's life, such as l'alba di un'era for 'the dawn of an era'.
Examples in context
- Tom si alza con l'alba.Tom rises with the sunrise.This sentence shows how to use alba to describe someone rising with the sunrise.Tatoeba #9740200 by Guybrush88, translation #9289032 by DJ_Saidez
- L'alba è bella stamattina.The sunrise is beautiful this morning.This sentence uses alba to describe the beauty of the sunrise in the morning.Tatoeba #6143232 by Guybrush88, translation #4936871 by CarpeLanam
- È impegnato dall'alba al tramonto.He's busy from sunrise to sunset.This sentence demonstrates how to use alba when describing a span of time from sunrise to sunset.Tatoeba #13039808 by Nuel, translation #13039807 by Nuel
- Questa mattina ho ammirato l'alba sul mare.This morning, I admired the sunrise over the sea.
- L'aurora offre uno spettacolo unico ogni giorno.The sunrise offers a unique spectacle every day.
- Il sole spunta all'orizzonte creando una magica alba.The sun emerges on the horizon, creating a magical sunrise.
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is sitting on a balcony early in the morning.
- AlessandroGuarda che bella l'alba, Martina.Look how beautiful the sunrise is, Martina.
- MartinaSì, è davvero suggestiva.Yes, it is truly evocative.
- AlessandroTi va di fare una foto?Do you want to take a photo?
- MartinaCerto, aspettiamo un attimo ancora.Sure, let's wait a little longer.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sunrise” translations and entries alba, aurora, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (primo, sole) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alba, aurora, del, sole, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
