Bedeutung
Describing the time.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Italy, 'tardi' is relative. Dinner often starts at 8:30 PM or 9:00 PM. Saying 'è molto tardi' at 10:00 PM might seem early to an Italian host. In the US, 'late' often implies a loss of productivity. In Italy, 'tardi' is often the peak of social life. In Japan, 'osoi' (late) is often tied to the 'last train' (shūden). In Italy, people will stay out 'tardi' even if they have to walk home. Spain and Italy share a very late clock. 'Muy tarde' in Spain might be 2:00 AM, similar to the Italian 'molto tardi'.
Sound like a native
Use 'Si è fatto tardi' instead of 'È tardi' when you want to leave a party. It sounds less like you're blaming the host and more like time just 'happened'.
The 'Io sono' trap
Never say 'Io sono tardi.' It's the #1 mistake for English speakers. Stick to 'Sono in ritardo'.
Bedeutung
Describing the time.
Sound like a native
Use 'Si è fatto tardi' instead of 'È tardi' when you want to leave a party. It sounds less like you're blaming the host and more like time just 'happened'.
The 'Io sono' trap
Never say 'Io sono tardi.' It's the #1 mistake for English speakers. Stick to 'Sono in ritardo'.
The Italian Midnight
Remember that in Italy, 'tardi' doesn't really start until after midnight. 10 PM is still prime time!
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the phrase.
Guarda l'orologio! ____ molto tardi, dobbiamo andare.
We use the 3rd person singular of 'essere' (è) for impersonal time expressions.
Which sentence is correct if you are late for a meeting?
How do you say 'I am late'?
'È molto tardi' refers to the time, 'Sono in ritardo' refers to a person being late.
Fill in the missing line in this dialogue.
A: Vuoi un altro caffè? B: No, grazie. ________. Devo tornare a casa.
The context of wanting to go home suggests it is late.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You see it is 1:00 AM and you are still working.
1:00 AM is objectively 'molto tardi'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Tardi vs. Ritardo
When to say 'È molto tardi'
Social
- • Leaving a party
- • Ending a dinner
Apology
- • Late phone call
- • Late email
Urgency
- • Missing a train
- • Oversleeping
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenGuarda l'orologio! ____ molto tardi, dobbiamo andare.
We use the 3rd person singular of 'essere' (è) for impersonal time expressions.
How do you say 'I am late'?
'È molto tardi' refers to the time, 'Sono in ritardo' refers to a person being late.
A: Vuoi un altro caffè? B: No, grazie. ________. Devo tornare a casa.
The context of wanting to go home suggests it is late.
You see it is 1:00 AM and you are still working.
1:00 AM is objectively 'molto tardi'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenNo, 'tardi' is an adverb and doesn't change its ending. 'Tardo' is an adjective used for historical periods or to mean 'slow'.
'Tardi' refers to the time of day (It is late). 'Ritardo' refers to being behind a schedule (I am late).
Use 'Si fa tardi' or 'Si sta facendo tardi'.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
Yes! 'È troppo tardi' means 'It is too late.'
You can say 'a tarda notte' or 'tardi la sera'.
Always 'è tardi' (singular) because it refers to the abstract concept of time.
No, use 'il compianto' or 'il defunto'.
It means 'late-ish' or 'towards the end of the day'.
Meglio tardi che mai!
Yes, if you mean it's late relative to when you should have woken up.
Very common! Italians love superlatives.
Verwandte Redewendungen
in ritardo
contrastbehind schedule
è presto
contrastit is early
si è fatto tardi
similarit has become late
tardissimo
specialized formextremely late
sul tardi
similartowards the evening/late
