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Lesson 10 of 16

Meals, Weather and Time Expressions

Talk about breakfast, lunch and dinner, describe the weather like an Italian, and handle two tiny words with huge power: fa for 'ago' and tra/fra for 'in' a period of time.

⏱ About 50 minutes 24 phrases 31 exercises

What you will learn

  • Use fare in the present tense and in everyday expressions like fare colazione, fare la spesa and fare una passeggiata
  • Talk about meals with fare colazione, pranzare and cenare
  • Describe the weather with fa caldo, fa freddo, piove, nevica and c'è il sole
  • Say that you feel hot or cold with avere caldo and avere freddo
  • Say how long ago something happened with fa: due giorni fa
  • Talk about the future with the present tense and tra/fra: Domani parto. Tra una settimana.

Quick review

Say these aloud before you start. They come from earlier lessons.

  • Parlo inglese. I speak English.
  • Dove abiti? Where do you live?
  • Ho una domanda. I have a question.
  • Ho parlato con Marco. I spoke with Marco.
  • Abbiamo mangiato molto bene. We ate very well.
  • Non lavoro qui. I do not work here.

Theory

Fare: six irregular forms, dozens of everyday expressions

Fare (to do, to make) is one of the most frequent verbs in Italian, and it is irregular: faccio, fai, fa, facciamo, fate, fanno. Learn the six forms as a set.

Fare teams up with nouns to build expressions that English renders with 'have' or 'go': fare colazione (to have breakfast), fare la spesa (to do the food shopping), fare una passeggiata (to go for a walk). Do not translate word by word — learn each expression as a single block.

  • Faccio colazione alle otto. I have breakfast at eight o'clock.
  • Facciamo una passeggiata dopo cena. We go for a walk after dinner.
  • Fanno la spesa il sabato. They do the food shopping on Saturdays.

Meals: fare colazione, pranzare, cenare

For breakfast, Italians say fare colazione: Faccio colazione alle sette. For lunch and dinner the language gives you a choice: the dedicated verbs pranzare (to have lunch) and cenare (to have dinner), or fare pranzo and fare cena.

Pranzare and cenare are completely regular -are verbs, so you already know all their endings. Both patterns are standard; the single verbs are simply shorter.

  • Pranzo all'una. I have lunch at one o'clock.
  • Ceniamo fuori stasera. We are eating out tonight.
  • Vuoi fare pranzo con noi? Do you want to have lunch with us?
Triptych of the Italian meals: la colazione at the bar, il pranzo by a sunny window and la cena at a candlelit trattoria.

Weather: fare for the sky, avere for people

To describe the weather, Italian uses fare impersonally: Fa caldo (it is hot), Fa freddo (it is cold), Fa bel tempo (the weather is nice). Weather verbs appear in the third person: Piove (it is raining), Nevica (it is snowing). For sunshine, say C'è il sole — literally 'there is the sun'.

Careful: when a person feels hot or cold, Italian switches to avere: Ho caldo (I am hot), Ho freddo (I am cold). Caldo and freddo are nouns here, so they never change ending: Maria ha caldo, i ragazzi hanno freddo.

  • Fa molto freddo oggi. It is very cold today.
  • Nevica in montagna. It is snowing in the mountains.
  • Ho caldo: apro la finestra. I am hot: I am opening the window.
Weather tiles answering che tempo fa: fa caldo, fa freddo, piove, nevica, c'è il sole, c'è vento.

Looking back and looking forward: fa, tra/fra and the present tense

Put fa after a length of time and it means 'ago': due giorni fa (two days ago), una settimana fa (a week ago). Combine it with the passato prossimo you already know: Ho parlato con Anna due giorni fa.

For the future, tra and fra both mean 'in' a period of time and are fully interchangeable: tra una settimana, fra due mesi (in a week, in two months). And notice something liberating: with a future time word like domani, the plain present tense already points to the future: Domani parto (Tomorrow I am leaving).

  • Ho mangiato qui una settimana fa. I ate here a week ago.
  • Ci vediamo tra una settimana! See you in a week!
  • Domani parto per Roma. Tomorrow I am leaving for Rome.
Timeline centred on adesso with due giorni fa behind and tra due giorni ahead.
fare — to do, to make (present tense, irregular)
fare
io faccio
tu fai
lui / lei fa
noi facciamo
voi fate
loro fanno

Watch the io and loro forms: faccio and fanno. The past participle is fatto.

Talking about meals
fare + noun single verb
breakfast fare colazione —
lunch fare pranzo pranzare
dinner fare cena cenare

Breakfast has no dedicated verb: always fare colazione. Pranzare and cenare are regular -are verbs.

Weather: the sky and the person
the weather (impersonal) how a person feels
heat Fa caldo. Ho caldo.
cold Fa freddo. Hai freddo?
rain Piove. —
snow Nevica. —
sun C'è il sole. —

The weather 'does' with fare or a weather verb; people feel hot and cold with avere: ho caldo, hai freddo.

Ago and in: fa vs tra/fra
fa (ago) tra / fra (in)
one hour un'ora fa tra un'ora
two days due giorni fa tra due giorni
one week una settimana fa fra una settimana
one month un mese fa fra un mese

Fa follows the time expression and looks back; tra and fra come before it and look forward.

Vocabulary

Italian English Pronunciation Audio
fare to do, to make /ˈfare/ FAH-reh
pranzare to have lunch /pranˈdzare/ prahn-DZAH-reh
cenare to have dinner /tʃeˈnare/ cheh-NAH-reh
piovere to rain /ˈpjɔvere/ PYOH-veh-reh
nevicare to snow /neviˈkare/ neh-vee-KAH-reh
partire to leave, to depart /parˈtire/ par-TEE-reh
la colazione breakfast /la kolatˈtsjone/ lah koh-laht-TSYOH-neh
il pranzo lunch /ˈprandzo/ PRAHN-dzoh
la cena dinner /ˈtʃɛna/ CHEH-nah
la passeggiata walk, stroll /passedˈdʒata/ pahs-sehd-JAH-tah
la spesa food shopping /ˈspɛza/ SPEH-zah
il sole sun /ˈsole/ SOH-leh
la pioggia rain /ˈpjɔddʒa/ PYOHD-jah
la neve snow /ˈnɛve/ NEH-veh
il tempo weather; time /ˈtempo/ TEHM-poh
il caldo heat /ˈkaldo/ KAHL-doh
il freddo cold (the cold) /ˈfreddo/ FREHD-doh
il giorno day /il ˈdʒorno/ eel JOHR-noh
la settimana week /settiˈmana/ seht-tee-MAH-nah
il mese month /ˈmese/ MEH-zeh
l'anno year /ˈanno/ AHN-noh
l'ora hour, time /ˈora/ OH-rah
il fine settimana weekend /il ˈfine settiˈmana/ eel FEE-neh seht-tee-MAH-nah
fa ago /ˈfa/ FAH
tra / fra in (a period of time), between /ˈtra, ˈfra/ TRAH / FRAH
domani tomorrow /doˈmani/ doh-MAH-nee
ieri yesterday /ˈjɛri/ YEH-ree
stasera this evening, tonight /staˈsera/ stah-SEH-rah

Ready-to-use phrases

Faccio colazione alle otto.

I have breakfast at eight o'clock.

IPA /ˈfattʃo kolatˈtsjone ˈalle ˈɔtto/

Say it FAHT-choh koh-laht-TSYOH-neh AHL-leh OHT-toh

Fare colazione is the everyday way to say 'to have breakfast'.

neutral meals daily routine

Pranzo a casa oggi.

I am having lunch at home today.

IPA /ˈprandzo a ˈkaza ˈɔddʒi/

Say it PRAHN-dzoh ah KAH-zah OHD-jee

neutral meals

Ceniamo fuori stasera.

We are eating out tonight.

IPA /tʃeˈnjamo ˈfwɔri staˈsera/

Say it cheh-NYAH-moh FWOH-ree stah-SEH-rah

neutral meals

Facciamo una passeggiata dopo cena.

We go for a walk after dinner.

IPA /fatˈtʃamo ˈuna passedˈdʒata ˈdopo ˈtʃɛna/

Say it faht-CHAH-moh OO-nah pahs-sehd-JAH-tah DOH-poh CHEH-nah

The noi form also works as a suggestion: Let's go for a walk after dinner.

neutral free time

Faccio la spesa il sabato.

I do the food shopping on Saturdays.

IPA /ˈfattʃo la ˈspɛza il ˈsabato/

Say it FAHT-choh lah SPEH-zah eel SAH-bah-toh

Fare la spesa is food shopping; fare spese is general shopping.

neutral shopping

Che tempo fa oggi?

What is the weather like today?

IPA /ke ˈtempo ˈfa ˈɔddʒi/

Say it keh TEHM-poh FAH OHD-jee

The standard question about the weather — literally 'what weather does it make?'

neutral weather questions

Fa caldo oggi.

It is hot today.

IPA /fa ˈkaldo ˈɔddʒi/

Say it fah KAHL-doh OHD-jee

neutral weather

Fa molto freddo qui.

It is very cold here.

IPA /fa ˈmolto ˈfreddo ˈkwi/

Say it fah MOHL-toh FREHD-doh KWEE

neutral weather

Piove molto qui.

It rains a lot here.

IPA /ˈpjɔve ˈmolto ˈkwi/

Say it PYOH-veh MOHL-toh KWEE

neutral weather

Nevica in montagna.

It is snowing in the mountains.

IPA /ˈnevika im monˈtaɲɲa/

Say it NEH-vee-kah een mohn-TAH-nyah

neutral weather travel

C'è il sole oggi.

It is sunny today.

IPA /tʃɛ il ˈsole ˈɔddʒi/

Say it cheh eel SOH-leh OHD-jee

Literally 'there is the sun'.

neutral weather

Ho caldo!

I am hot!

IPA /o ˈkaldo/

Say it oh KAHL-doh

People feel heat with avere: literally 'I have heat'.

neutral feelings weather

Hai freddo?

Are you cold?

IPA /ai ˈfreddo/

Say it eye FREHD-doh

informal feelings questions

Ho parlato con Anna due giorni fa.

I spoke with Anna two days ago.

IPA /o parˈlato kon ˈanna ˈdue ˈdʒorni ˈfa/

Say it oh par-LAH-toh kohn AHN-nah DOO-eh JOHR-nee FAH

Time expression + fa = ago.

neutral past time

Abbiamo mangiato qui una settimana fa.

We ate here a week ago.

IPA /abˈbjamo manˈdʒato ˈkwi ˈuna settiˈmana ˈfa/

Say it ahb-BYAH-moh mahn-JAH-toh KWEE OO-nah seht-tee-MAH-nah FAH

neutral past time food

Domani parto per Roma.

Tomorrow I am leaving for Rome.

IPA /doˈmani ˈparto per ˈroma/

Say it doh-MAH-nee PAR-toh pehr ROH-mah

The present tense with domani talks about a fixed future plan.

neutral future travel

Ci vediamo tra una settimana!

See you in a week!

IPA /tʃi veˈdjamo ˈtra ˈuna settiˈmana/

Say it chee veh-DYAH-moh trah OO-nah seht-tee-MAH-nah

Fra works exactly the same: ci vediamo fra una settimana.

informal future time

Fra due giorni è sabato.

In two days it is Saturday.

IPA /fra ˈdue ˈdʒorni ˈɛ ˈsabato/

Say it frah DOO-eh JOHR-nee eh SAH-bah-toh

neutral future time

Vuoi pranzare con me domani?

Do you want to have lunch with me tomorrow?

IPA /ˈvwɔi pranˈdzare kon ˈme doˈmani/

Say it VWOY prahn-DZAH-reh kohn MEH doh-MAH-nee

Vuoi + infinitive is the direct, friendly way to invite someone.

informal meals invitations

Ti va di cenare fuori stasera?

Do you fancy eating out tonight?

IPA /ti ˈva di tʃeˈnare ˈfwɔri staˈsera/

Say it tee VAH dee cheh-NAH-reh FWOH-ree stah-SEH-rah

Ti va di...? is the relaxed way to suggest a plan: does it suit you?

informal meals invitations

Andiamo a fare una passeggiata?

Shall we go for a walk?

IPA /anˈdjamo a ˈfare ˈuna passedˈdʒata/

Say it ahn-DYAH-moh ah FAH-reh OO-nah pahs-sehd-JAH-tah

Andare a + infinitive: to go and do something.

informal free time invitations

Ieri ha piovuto tutto il giorno.

It rained all day yesterday.

IPA /ˈjɛri a pjoˈvuto ˈtutto il ˈdʒorno/

Say it YEH-ree ah pyoh-VOO-toh TOOT-toh eel JOHR-noh

Weather verbs build the past with avere: ha piovuto, ha nevicato.

neutral weather past

Stasera faccio io la cena.

Tonight I am making dinner.

IPA /staˈsera ˈfattʃo ˈio la ˈtʃɛna/

Say it stah-SEH-rah FAHT-choh EE-oh lah CHEH-nah

Io after the verb adds emphasis: I am the one cooking.

neutral meals

Pranziamo insieme domani?

Shall we have lunch together tomorrow?

IPA /pranˈdzamo inˈsjɛme doˈmani/

Say it prahn-DZYAH-moh een-SYEH-meh doh-MAH-nee

informal meals invitations

Dialogues

Fancy lunch tomorrow?

Emma and Giulia, colleagues in Bologna, make a plan for the next day.

  1. Giulia

    Ciao Emma! Che tempo fa domani?

    Hi Emma! What is the weather like tomorrow?

  2. Emma

    Fa caldo e c'è il sole.

    It is hot and sunny.

  3. Giulia

    Perfetto! Vuoi pranzare con me?

    Perfect! Do you want to have lunch with me?

  4. Emma

    Volentieri! Dove?

    I'd love to! Where?

  5. Giulia

    C'è un bar nuovo vicino all'ufficio.

    There is a new café near the office.

  6. Emma

    Bene. E dopo pranzo facciamo una passeggiata?

    Good. And shall we go for a walk after lunch?

  7. Giulia

    Sì! Stasera invece ceno fuori con Marco.

    Yes! Tonight, though, I am eating out with Marco.

  8. Emma

    Allora ci vediamo domani all'una!

    See you tomorrow at one, then!

A rainy Saturday

Tom and Chiara, flatmates in Milan, plan their weekend around the weather.

  1. Tom

    Che brutto tempo oggi! Piove e fa freddo.

    What horrible weather today! It is raining and it is cold.

  2. Chiara

    Lo so. Ho freddo io!

    I know. I am cold!

  3. Tom

    Anch'io. Che facciamo oggi?

    Me too. What shall we do today?

  4. Chiara

    Prima facciamo colazione, poi faccio la spesa.

    First we will have breakfast, then I will do the food shopping.

  5. Tom

    E stasera?

    And tonight?

  6. Chiara

    Stasera faccio io la cena.

    Tonight I am making dinner.

  7. Tom

    Ottima idea!

    Great idea!

  8. Chiara

    Domani c'è il sole: andiamo a fare una passeggiata?

    Tomorrow it is sunny: shall we go for a walk?

Exercises

Multiple Choice Exercise 1

Choose the correct form of fare.

Io ___ colazione alle otto.
Multiple Choice Exercise 2

Choose the correct word to describe the weather.

___ caldo oggi.
Multiple Choice Exercise 3

Choose the correct form of fare.

I miei amici ___ una passeggiata dopo cena.
Multiple Choice Exercise 4

Choose the word that means 'ago'.

Ho parlato con Luca due giorni ___.
Multiple Choice Exercise 5

Choose the correct form of partire for a future plan.

Domani ___ per Roma.
Conjugation Exercise 6

Write the correct form.

fare — tu (present tense)
Conjugation Exercise 7

Write the correct form.

fare — noi (present tense)
Conjugation Exercise 8

Write the correct form.

pranzare — io (present tense)
Conjugation Exercise 9

Write the correct form.

nevicare — lui (present tense)
Fill Gap Exercise 10

Fill the gap with the Italian word.

Dopo pranzo facciamo una ___. (a walk)
Fill Gap Exercise 11

Fill the gap with the Italian word.

Apriamo la finestra: ho ___! (hot, as a person feels it)
Fill Gap Exercise 12

Fill the gap with the Italian preposition.

___ una settimana partiamo per l'Italia. (in)
Fill Gap Exercise 13

Fill the gap.

___ il sole: andiamo al mare! (there is)
Article Choice Exercise 14

Choose the correct article for spesa.

Faccio ___ spesa al mercato.
Pronoun Choice Exercise 15

Choose the pronoun that completes this goodbye.

___ vediamo tra una settimana!
Translate To Italian Exercise 16

Translate into Italian.

It is cold today.
Translate To Italian Exercise 17

Translate into Italian.

Are you cold? (informal)
Translate To Italian Exercise 18

Translate into Italian.

We ate here a week ago.
Translate To Italian Exercise 19

Translate into Italian.

See you in a week!
Translate To English Exercise 20

Translate into English.

Faccio la spesa il sabato.
Translate To English Exercise 21

Translate into English.

Nevica in montagna.
Word Order Exercise 22

Tap the words in the correct order.

Build the sentence: I spoke two days ago.
Word Order Exercise 23

Tap the words in the correct order.

Build the sentence: It is very hot today.
Match Pairs Exercise 24

Tap an Italian expression, then tap its English meaning.

Match each fare expression to its meaning.
Match Pairs Exercise 25

Tap an Italian sentence, then tap its English meaning.

Match each weather sentence to its meaning.
True False Exercise 26

True or false?

To say that a person feels hot, an Italian says fa caldo.
True False Exercise 27

True or false?

Tra and fra both mean 'in' a period of time and are interchangeable.
Sentence Transform Exercise 28

Rewrite the sentence in the past with fa.

Parlo con Anna oggi. → Say it happened two days ago.
Listen And Type Exercise 29

Play the audio, then type exactly what you hear.

Listen and write the Italian sentence.
Listen And Choose Exercise 30

Play the audio, then tap the matching sentence.

Listen and choose the sentence you hear.
Flashcard Self Rating Exercise 31

Say the sentence aloud, then show the meaning and rate yourself.

Ho caldo!

Speak now

Say each sentence aloud three times: once slowly, once at normal speed, once from memory. Then change the time expression or the meal and say your own version.

  • Faccio colazione alle otto e pranzo all'una. I have breakfast at eight and lunch at one.
  • Che tempo fa oggi? Fa caldo e c'è il sole. What is the weather like today? It is hot and sunny.
  • Ho parlato con un amico due giorni fa. I spoke with a friend two days ago.
  • Domani parto e torno tra una settimana. Tomorrow I am leaving and I am coming back in a week.
  • Stasera ceniamo fuori: ti va? Tonight we are eating out: are you up for it?

Lesson checkpoint

Before you move on, make sure you can do all of this without looking:

  1. Say all six present-tense forms of fare from memory
  2. Say when you have breakfast, lunch and dinner with fare colazione, pranzare and cenare
  3. Describe today's weather in three different ways: with fare, with a weather verb and with c'è il sole
  4. Say that you feel hot or cold with ho caldo and ho freddo
  5. Say something that happened two days or a week ago with fa
  6. Arrange a meal for tomorrow using the present tense and tra/fra

Remember this

  • Fare is irregular: faccio, fai, fa, facciamo, fate, fanno — and it builds key expressions: fare colazione, fare la spesa, fare una passeggiata.
  • Meals: fare colazione for breakfast, but pranzare and cenare (regular -are verbs) for lunch and dinner.
  • The weather 'does': fa caldo, fa freddo, piove, nevica, c'è il sole. People feel it with avere: ho caldo, ho freddo.
  • Fa after a time expression means ago: due giorni fa, una settimana fa.
  • Tra and fra mean 'in' a period of time: tra una settimana. With domani, the plain present tense already talks about the future: Domani parto.

Go deeper: fare · avere · Present tense · -are verbs · essere (c'è)