🕠

How to Say ‘It's quarter to six.’ in Italian

Sono le sei meno un quarto.

SO-noh Leh say MEH-noh oon KWAR-toh

[SO-noh Leh say MEH-noh oon KWAR-toh]

Phrase Breakdown

Sono le sei

SO-noh Leh say

It's six

Italians often name the coming hour and then subtract minutes from it.

Example

Sono le sei di sera.

It's six in the evening.

Words in this phrase

Sono

[SO-noh]

They are

Used as a plural form of 'to be', indicating existence or identity of multiple entities.

Example

Sono 10 euro, grazie.

They are 10 euros, thank you.

[Leh]

The (feminine plural)

Definite article used for feminine plural nouns.

Example

Le mele costano tre euro al chilo.

The apples cost three euros per kilo.

sei

[say]

six

The number six, often used with years in job-related conversations.

Example

Ha lavorato per "sei" anni nel marketing.

He/She worked for "six" years in marketing.

meno un quarto.

MEH-noh oon KWAR-toh

minus a quarter (a quarter to)

'Meno' means 'minus', so this is 15 minutes before the hour. Say 'MEH-noh oon KWAR-toh'.

Example

Sono le tre meno un quarto.

It's a quarter to three.

Words in this phrase

meno

[MEH-noh]

less

Used to compare amounts, prices, or intensity.

Example

Per questa distanza pensavo di pagare un po' meno.

For this distance I thought I would pay a little less.

[oon]

a / an

An indefinite article meaning 'a' before a masculine singular noun.

Example

È stato un incontro molto utile.

It was a very useful meeting.

quarto

[KWAR-toh]

quarter

Fifteen minutes; with 'meno' it means a quarter to.

Example

Sono le nove meno un quarto.

It's a quarter to nine.

Guides for Italian learners

Duolingo vs Busuu: Which Is Better for Actually Improving?Duolingo vs Busuu compared: a free gamified habit versus structured levels with corrections from native speakers. Which to choose, and when to use both.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Spent the summer in Tuscany researching Italian cuisine. Being able to chat with nonnas at the market about recipes? Absolutely priceless.”

Grace P., 34, Food Writer

“Working on a project in Milan and needed professional Italian fast. The business roleplays gave me the confidence to present to clients within a month.”

Daniel F., 45, Architect

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer