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Learn Italian with Joy of Languages

63: How to say "time" in Italian (Tempo vs. Volta)

Learn Italian with Joy of Languages

Joy of Languages

Education, Italian Podcast, Language Learning, Courses, Italian Lessons, Learn Italian

4.81.2K Ratings

🗓️ 24 March 2019

⏱️ 7 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Tempo and volta - they both mean "time" in Italian. But be careful, they're not interchangeable - learn when to use them!

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Today's Italian words

il tempo vola = time flies

il tempo = time (literally: the time) 

vola = flies 

Non ho tempo = I don't have time 

Non ho = I don't have (literally: not, I have)

tempo = time

Tutto il tempo

Tutto = all

il = the

tempo = time

Tempo è denaro = time is money 

il tempo = time ("the" time)

è = is

denaro = money

il tempo è un'illusione = time is an illusion

il tempo = time (literally "the time")

è = is

un'illusione = an illusion. 

Una volta = one time/once

Una = one

Volta = time

Due volte = two times/twice

Due = two

Volte = times 

La prossima volta = next time

La prossima = next (literally "the next")

Volta = time

La scorsa volta = last time

La scorsa = the last

Volta = time

Ogni volta = every time

Ogni = every 

Volta = time

Molte volte = many times

Molte = Many

Volte = times

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Do you know how to say time in Italian?

0:03.5

The word time can be translated in two different ways in Italian.

0:07.7

Tempo and Volta.

0:10.7

But be careful, these two words can't be used interchangeably.

0:15.2

Learn the difference between tempo and Volta in episode 63 of 5 Minute Italian.

0:29.8

Ciao to all and Benvenuti at 5 Minutes Italian.

0:33.2

I'm Katie.

0:34.1

And I'm Matteo.

0:35.0

Ciao.

0:35.9

And today we're going to talk about the words tempo and Volta in Italian.

0:42.3

Now these can both be translated with the word time in English, but in Italian they represent

0:47.8

quite different concepts.

0:50.5

So what's the difference between tempo and Volta? Before we give you the answer, let's listen to some example sentences and see if you can figure it out yourself.

1:01.0

Yes. Here's a phrase with tempo.

1:05.0

The tempo vola.

1:09.0

The tempo.

1:10.0

Time, literally the time. Vola. The tempo. Time. Literally the time.

1:13.6

Vola.

1:14.6

Flies.

1:16.6

Time flies.

1:18.6

The tempo,

1:19.6

vola.

...

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