Che giorno è?
The English phrase "what day is it?" is translated into Italian as Che giorno è?
You use this phrase to ask for the current day of the week. The phrase includes the word giorno, which means "day" and the verb è, which is the third person singular form of essere meaning "is".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of Che (what), giorno (day) and è (is).
Which one should you use?
Che giorno è? is typically used to ask for the day of the week. If you want to ask for the specific calendar date, you should use Che data è? instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are unsure about the current day, you can also use the alternative form Che giorno siamo?, which literally translates to "What day are we?"
When do people say it?
When responding to this question, a common way to answer is to use the structure È followed by the day of the week, such as È lunedì (It is Monday).
Did you know?
- The word giorno has an unexpected relative in the English word 'journal'. Both share a common ancestor in the Latin 'diurnum', which referred to the daily cycle of work and light.
- Unlike English, which uses the impersonal 'it' for time, the variation Che giorno siamo? treats the date as a shared experience that the speaker and listener are inhabiting together.
- While Che giorno è? asks about the day, the word giorno is also used in the common greeting Buongiorno, which literally means 'good day'.
Examples in context
- Scusa, che giorno è?Excuse me, what day is it?
- Ma che giorno è?Wait, what day is it?
Example conversation
Alessandro and Chiara are talking at home.
- AlessandroChiara, che giorno è?Chiara, what day is it?
- ChiaraOggi è mercoledì, Alessandro.Today is Wednesday, Alessandro.
- AlessandroAh, allora domani è giovedì!Ah, so tomorrow is Thursday!
- ChiaraSì, esatto.Yes, exactly.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries che, giorno, è, CC BY-SA 4.0.
