ora di mangiare
/ˈo.ra di manˈd͡ʒa.re/word by word
In Italian, the phrase for "time to eat" is ora di mangiare.
The phrase ora di mangiare is used to announce that a meal is ready or to indicate that the scheduled hour for eating has arrived.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ora (hour/time), di (of) and mangiare (to eat).
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the complete sentence "It is time to eat", you must add the verb è (it is) before the phrase to get È ora di mangiare.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈo.ra di manˈdʒa.re/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- While ora di mangiare is a grammatically perfect way to state the time, an Italian family member is much more likely to shout A tavola! to get everyone's attention.
- The verb mangiare actually comes from the Latin word mandūcāre, which means 'to chew' or 'to munch' rather than just the act of swallowing food.
- In Italy, the 'time to eat' for the main meal is typically much later than in English-speaking countries, with dinner often starting after 8 PM.
Examples in context
- È ora di mangiare.It's time to eat.This sentence is useful for stating that it is time to eat.Tatoeba #1969670 by Guybrush88, translation #954096 by CK
- Non è ora di mangiare?Isn't it about time to eat?This sentence is useful for asking if it is time to eat.Tatoeba #2356107 by Guybrush88, translation #954021 by CK
- È quasi ora di mangiare.It's almost time to eat.This sentence is useful for saying it is almost time to eat.Tatoeba #6712926 by Guybrush88, translation #6704094 by CK
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara calls Matteo from the kitchen to the dining room.
- ChiaraMatteo, vieni qui, è ora di mangiare!Matteo, come here, it's time to eat!
- MatteoArrivo subito, ho molta fame.I'm coming right away, I'm very hungry.
- ChiaraSbrigati, oppure la pasta si raffredda.Hurry up, or the pasta will get cold.
- MatteoSono già a tavola, Chiara!I'm already at the table, Chiara!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ora, di, mangiare) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries di, mangiare, ora, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
