5 Saying what the time is (‘past’ and ‘to’)

For minutes past the hour, use e.

• Sono le cinque e dieci. It’s ten past five.
• È l’una e venticinque. It’s twenty-five past one.

For minutes to the hour use meno.

• Sono le sei meno venti. It’s twenty to six.
• È l’una meno cinque. It’s five to one.

For ‘half past’, use mezzo or mezza (there is no difference in meaning).

• È mezzanotte e mezza. It’s half-past midnight.
• Sono le undici e mezzo. It’s half-past eleven.

For ‘quarter past’ or ‘quarter to’, use un quarto with e or meno.

• Sono le cinque e un quarto. It’s (a) quarter past five.
• È l’una meno un quarto. It’s (a) quarter to one.

For ‘quarter to’ you can also use e tre quarti (‘three-quarters past’).

• Sono le dodici e tre quarti. It’s (a) quarter to one. / It’s twelve forty-five.