A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "In the morning" in Italian
Use 'la mattina' to talk about what happens in the morning, from breakfast to early meetings.
la mattina
lah mah-TEE-nahneutral
Italian TTS · 0:01
This is the standard way to refer to the morning period. Use it when discussing your plans or habits that occur between waking up and lunchtime.
Alternatives
- di mattinaOften used in phrases like 'I wake up in the morning'.
- stamattinaSpecifically refers to 'this morning'.
Ways to get it wrong
Confusing 'mattina' with 'mattino'
'Mattina' is feminine and used for the period of the day; 'mattino' is masculine and usually refers to a morning newspaper or a morning prayer.
Forgetting the article 'la'
You almost always need 'la' before 'mattina' when referring to the time period, like 'la mattina presto' (early in the morning).
A small cultural note
Italians often consider 'la mattina' to extend until lunch, which is typically around 1 or 2 PM.
Frequently asked
When does la mattina end?
Generally, 'la mattina' lasts until lunchtime, which in Italy is usually between 1 PM and 2 PM. After that, it becomes 'il pomeriggio'.
What's the difference between la mattina and stamattina?
'La mattina' refers to mornings in general, while 'stamattina' specifically means 'this morning' (the morning of the current day).
How do I say 'early morning'?
You can say 'la mattina presto' or 'di buon mattino', both meaning early in the morning.
