Which Italian phrases matter most here?

“Qual è il vostro orario di apertura?” (What are your opening hours); “A che ora aprite?” (What time do you open); “A che ora chiudete?” (What time do you close). The full list is above.

Can I hear how they sound?

Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.

How can I practise this conversation?

Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Italy. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Italian phrases for asking about opening hours in Italy

Ask “Qual è il vostro orario di apertura?” or, for today, “A che ora chiudete?”. Many small shops close for lunch and on Sunday, so check: “Quindi chiudete per pranzo?”. If the answer comes too fast, ask “Può scriverlo, per favore?”, then confirm with “È corretto?”.

Try it · about two minutes

You step into a small shop and ask when it opens, whether it closes for lunch and if it opens on Sunday.

Sound on: the shopkeeper speaks Italian. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

How does the conversation usually go?

Shopkeeper
Posso aiutarla?
Can I help you?
You
Qual è il vostro orario di apertura?
What are your opening hours?
Shopkeeper
Dal lunedì al sabato, dalle nove all’una e dalle quattro alle otto. La domenica siamo chiusi.
Monday to Saturday, from nine to one and from four to eight. On Sundays we’re closed.
You
Può scriverlo, per favore?
Can you write it down, please?
Shopkeeper
Un momento, per favore.
One moment, please.
You
Nessun problema.
No problem.
Shopkeeper
Grazie per l'attesa.
Thank you for waiting.
You
È corretto?
Is that correct?
Shopkeeper
Sì, esatto.
Yes, exactly.
You
Grazie per l'aiuto.
Thanks for your help.
Shopkeeper
Stia bene!
Take care.
You
Grazie, arrivederci.
Thank you, goodbye.

Which Italian phrases do you need?

Qual è il vostro orario di apertura?
What are your opening hours?
A che ora aprite?
What time do you open?
A che ora chiudete?
What time do you close?
Siete aperti oggi?
Are you open today?
Il negozio è aperto adesso?
Is the shop open now?
A che ora chiude il negozio oggi?
What time does the shop close today?
Può scriverlo, per favore?
Can you write it down, please?
Può ripetere, per favore?
Can you repeat that, please?
È corretto?
Is that correct?
Parli piano, per favore.
Please speak slowly.

What is worth knowing in Italy?

Three useful questions

1
Is it open today?
Are you open today?
2
When does it close today?
What time does the shop close today?
3
What are the usual hours?
What are your opening hours?

The lunch break

Many small shops close for a long lunch break in the early afternoon, then reopen until the evening. Larger shops and supermarkets often stay open all day.

Read the sign on the door

Many small shops are shut on Sunday. “Orario continuato” means no lunch break, and “chiuso per ferie” means closed for the holidays.

Questions about this situation

Which Italian phrases matter most here?: “Qual è il vostro orario di apertura?” (What are your opening hours); “A che ora aprite?” (What time do you open); “A che ora chiudete?” (What time do you close). The full list is above.
Can I hear how they sound?: Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.
How can I practise this conversation?: Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Italy. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Related situations in Italian

All situations in Italian

Practise these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

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AI-generated. May be inaccurate.