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 we’ll even talk about what kind of different “times” there are in Italian and what words you can use to describe them.
Let’s get started! Iniziamo!
To save time in Italian
First of all, let’s translate to save time in Italian.
Risparmiare tempo
To save time
To save time in Italian – Let’s break it down!
Risparmiare tempo is literally translated as to spare time, meaning “use less time to do something”.
Tempo is simply the Italian word 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 |
Title: Italian All-in-One For Dummies
Language: English / Italian
Publisher: For Dummies
Pages: 672
Learn to speak Italian like a native? Easy.
Italian All-in-One For Dummies appeals to those readers looking for a comprehensive, all-encompassing guide to mastering the Italian language. It contains content from all For Dummies Italian language instruction titles, including Italian For Dummies, Intermediate Italian For Dummies, Italian Verbs For Dummies, Italian Phrases For Dummies, Italian Grammar For Dummies, and Italian For Dummies Audio Set.
You’ll find this verb in many expressions in Italian. Some of them are:
Risparmiare spazio
To save space
Risparmiare energia
To save energy
Risparmiarsi il disturbo
To save yourself 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.
The reserves are running out: we have to start saving energy.
You’ll notice that in these expressionss, risparmiare is translated as “to save”. 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
Sometimes 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 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 (il) tempo per
To have (the) time for/to
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 in 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 longest road.
Risparmieremo tempo se prendiamo la metropolitana.
We’ll save time by taking the subway.
Mi taglio i capelli da solo per risparmiare tempo e soldi.
I cut my own hair to save time and money.
Want more?
Now that you know how to say to save time in Italian, help Lingookies grow with a like!
Aiuta Lingookies con un 👍!
Now that you’ve seen how to say to save time in Italian, you might want to keep learning Italian online with these free Italian resources:
❤️ If you liked this Lingookie, share it with your social media friends who are also studying Italian!
