How do you translate the expression to save time in Italian?
In this lesson we’ll take a look at this very expression, also known as collocation, and will even talk about what kind of different “times” are there in Italian and what words you can use to describe them.
Let’s go! Iniziamo!
To save time in Italian
First things first, let’s translate to save time in Italian.
Risparmiare tempo
To save time
To save time in Italian – Let’s break this up!
Risparmiare tempo is literally translated as to spare time, with the meaning “use less time for doing something”.
Tempo is simply the Italian translation for time.
Risparmiare
To spare, to save
Tempo
Time
Prendi l’autobus per risparmiare tempo.
Take the bus to save time.
Risparmiare alone can also mean “to save money”.
It is a verb of the first -are group. Its indicativo presente conjugation is as follows.
| io | risparmio |
| tu | risparmi |
| lui, lei | risparmia |
| noi | risparmiamo |
| voi | risparmiate |
| loro | risparmiano |
You’ll find this verb in a variety of other expressions in Italian. Some of them are:
Risparmiare spazio
To save space
Risparmiare energia
To save energy
Risparmiarsi il disturbo
To save oneself the trouble
For example, you could say:
Se mettiamo la cassettiera di fianco all’armadio, risparmieremo spazio.
If we put the dresser next to the closet, we will save space.
Le riserve sono agli sgoccioli: dobbiamo cominciare a risparmiare energia.
Reserves are running low: we need to start saving energy.
You’ll notice that risparmiare is translated as “to save” in these expressions.
Used alone, with no objects, risparmiare serves to mean “to save money”.
Risparmiare
To save money
Non è facile risparmiare al giorno d’oggi.
It is not easy to save money nowadays.
To save is actually translated as salvare, as in salvare una vita, to save a life.
Salvare una vita
To save a life
Some other times it’s even translated as tenere, to keep.
Tenere un posto a qualcuno
To save someone a seat
Tempo
We said that the translation for to save time in Italian is risparmiare tempo. Tempo is a masculine noun. It is often followed by a descriptive adjective and in sentences it is almost always preceded by an article.
Il tempo
(The) time
Il tempo è denaro!
Time is money!
Time as in “to tell the time” is actually translated as dire l’ora, which literally translates to “to say the hour”.
Dire l’ora
To tell the time
Mi sai dire l’ora?
Can you tell me the time?
Expressions like dire che ora è and dire che ore sono are also very common.
Mi sai dire che ora è?
Can you tell me the time?
Literally: Can you tell me what hour it is?
Mi sai dire che ore sono?
Can you tell me the time?
Literally: Can you tell me what hours they are?
Other expressions with tempo are…
Avere tempo per
To have time for
Tempo libero
Spare time
Tempo di cottura
Cooking time
(We like to cook, so this is important!)
For example, you could say…
Mattia non ha molto tempo libero. Lavora 10 ore al giorno.
Mattia doesn’t have much free time. He works 10 hours a day.
Conosci il tempo di cottura di questi spaghetti?
Do you know the cooking time of these noodles?
You’ll also find il viaggio nel tempo, time travel. From this you get the verb viaggiare nel tempo, to travel through time.
Viaggio nel tempo
Time travel
To save time in Italian – Examples
A volte si risparmia tempo prendendo la strada più lunga.
Sometimes you save time by taking the longer road.
Risparmieremo tempo se prendiamo la metropolitana.
We’ll save time if we go by subway.
Mi taglio i capelli da solo per risparmiare tempo e soldi.
I cut my own hair to save time and money.
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