A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "A quarter" in Italian
Say 'un quarto d'ora' for 'a quarter of an hour' when talking about time in Italy.
un quarto d'ora
oon KWAR-toh DOH-rahneutral
Italian TTS · 0:01
Use this when you need to specify a duration of 15 minutes. For example, if someone asks how long a bus ride is, or how long you'll be at the shop.
Alternatives
- quindici minutiThis is more precise and directly translates to 'fifteen minutes'.
- un quartoThis can be used for 'a quarter' of something other than time, like a pizza or a cake.
Ways to get it wrong
Just 'quarto'
Saying just 'quarto' by itself can be confusing; always add 'd'ora' for time.
Pronouncing 'quarto'
Make sure to pronounce the 'qu' like 'kw' and stress the first syllable: KWAR-toh.
A small cultural note
Italians often use 'un quarto d'ora' to indicate a general short waiting period, so it might mean slightly more or less than exactly 15 minutes in casual conversation.
Frequently asked
How to say a quarter past the hour?
You would say 'le [hour] e un quarto'. For example, 'le tre e un quarto' means a quarter past three.
Is 'un quarto d'ora' always exactly 15 minutes?
While it technically means 15 minutes, in everyday speech, it often implies a short, approximate amount of time.
Can I just say 'un quarto' for time?
No, 'un quarto' alone usually refers to a quarter of something else, like food. For time, you need 'un quarto d'ora'.
