This lesson will help you describe your daily activities in Italian using the present indicative and reflexive verbs. Learn the new vocabulary.
If you’re interested, you can find the enrollment form for the course at the bottom of this page. If not, we hope to see you next time!
Cosa impareremo oggi
👆🏻 Links to Sections
- Presente Indicativo and Reflexive Verbs
- Reflexive Verbs
- Regular verbs
- Prima & Dopo
- Common Questions
- Time Keywords
- Hai provato quel nuovo ristorante? – Listening Task
- Role Play
In this lesson, the main objective is to help you describe daily activities using the present tense. You will practice forming sentences that talk about a typical day, covering everything from waking up to going to work and more.
The grammar focus will include a review and practice of present tense conjugation, particularly focusing on reflexive verbs commonly used in daily routines, such as svegliarsi (to wake up) and lavarsi (to wash oneself).
You will also expand your vocabulary related to daily routine activities, like alzarsi (to get up), andare a lavoro (to go to work), and preparare la colazione (to prepare breakfast). In addition, you will learn how to use time expressions like di mattina (in the morning) and di sera (in the evening) to talk about when these activities take place.
Presente Indicativo and Reflexive Verbs
What are Reflexive Verbs? Reflexive verbs are verbs where the action is reflected back on the subject. In other words, the person doing the action is also receiving it. Reflexive verbs in Italian always include a reflexive pronoun that shows who is doing the action to themselves. These verbs are often used to talk about daily routines like waking up, washing, and dressing.
What are Reflexive Pronouns? Reflexive pronouns show that the subject and the object of the action are the same. They come before the verb and change depending on who the subject is. Here’s how they work with the different subjects in Italian:
| Subject | Reflexive Pronoun | -are (svegliarsi) (to wake up) | -ere (radersi) (to shave) | -ire (vestirsi) (to get dressed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Io (I) | mi | mi sveglio | mi rado | mi vesto |
| Tu (You) | ti | ti svegli | ti radi | ti vesti |
| Lui/Lei (He/She) | si | si sveglia | si rade | si veste |
| Noi (We) | ci | ci svegliamo | ci radiamo | ci vestiamo |
| Voi (You all) | vi | vi svegliate | vi radete | vi vestite |
| Loro (They) | si | si svegliano | si radono | si vestono |
Reflexive verbs follow the standard conjugation rules for -are, -ere, and -ire verbs, but the reflexive pronouns are always included before the verb. This makes them easy to recognize and use when talking about actions you do to yourself.
Here’s a chart with regular -are, -ere, and -ire verbs commonly used in a daily routine, along with their conjugation in the present tense:
| Subject | -are (mangiare) (to eat) | -ere (leggere) (to read) | -ire (dormire) (to sleep) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Io (I) | mangio | leggo | dormo |
| Tu (You) | mangi | leggi | dormi |
| Lui/Lei (He/She) | mangia | legge | dorme |
| Noi (We) | mangiamo | leggiamo | dormiamo |
| Voi (You all) | mangiate | leggete | dormite |
| Loro (They) | mangiano | leggono | dormono |
When talking about your daily routine in Italian, you’ll use a combination of reflexive and regular verbs. Here are some common verbs you can use, along with example sentences.
Reflexive Verbs
Here’s a list of reflexive verbs that we’ll be using throughout the exercises. Please familiarize yourself with their usage and read the examples out loud.”
- Alzarsi – to get up
Mi alzo alle 7 del mattino. – I get up at 7 in the morning. - Lavarsi – to wash oneself
Ti lavi prima di uscire di casa? – Do you wash yourself before leaving the house? - Svegliarsi – to wake up
Laura si sveglia presto ogni mattina per andare a lavoro. – Laura wakes up early every morning to go to work. - Pettinarsi – to comb one’s hair
Ci pettiniamo sempre prima di uscire per una serata elegante. – We always comb our hair before going out for an elegant evening. - Radersi – to shave
Marco si rade ogni mattina prima di andare in ufficio. – Marco shaves every morning before going to the office. - Vestirsi – to get dressed
Luisa si veste in fretta per non arrivare in ritardo a scuola. – Luisa gets dressed quickly not to be late for school. - Prepararsi – to get ready
Vi preparate con cura prima di uscire per il matrimonio? – Do you get ready carefully before going to the wedding? - Riposarsi – to rest
Dopo una lunga camminata, ci riposiamo sotto un albero. – After a long walk, we rest under a tree. - Incontrarsi – to meet each other
Ci incontriamo sempre al parco per fare due chiacchiere. – We always meet at the park to chat. - Addormentarsi – to fall asleep
I bambini si addormentano tardi quando sono eccitati. – The children fall asleep late when they are excited. - Farsi la doccia – to take a shower
Mi faccio la doccia dopo la palestra per rilassarmi. – I take a shower after the gym to relax. - Truccarsi – to put on makeup
Sofia si trucca leggermente prima di uscire con gli amici. – Sofia puts on light makeup before going out with her friends. - Divertirsi – to have fun
Ci divertiamo molto quando giochiamo a carte. – We have a lot of fun when we play cards. - Annoiarsi – to get bored
Ti annoi quando sei da solo a casa? – Do you get bored when you’re home alone? - Salutarsi – to greet each other
Ci salutiamo sempre con un abbraccio prima di partire. – We always greet each other with a hug before leaving. - Rilassarsi – to relax
Dopo una lunga settimana, mi rilasso leggendo un libro. – After a long week, I relax by reading a book. - Sedersi – to sit down
Ci sediamo sempre vicino al camino in inverno. – We always sit by the fireplace in winter. - Asciugarsi – to dry oneself
Ti asciughi i capelli dopo il bagno? – Do you dry your hair after the bath? - Sentirsi – to feel (emotionally or physically)
Mi sento stanco dopo una giornata di lavoro intenso. – I feel tired after a long day of hard work. - Guardarsi – to look at oneself
Ti guardi sempre allo specchio prima di uscire. – You always look at yourself in the mirror before going out. - Allenarsi – to train/work out
Mario si allena regolarmente per migliorare la sua resistenza. – Mario trains regularly to improve his endurance. - Mettersi – to put on (clothes)
Ci mettiamo i cappotti quando fa freddo. – We put on our coats when it’s cold. - Togliersi – to take off (clothes)
Mi tolgo sempre le scarpe appena rientro in casa. – I always take off my shoes as soon as I get home. - Chiedersi – to wonder
Mi chiedo spesso se sto facendo le scelte giuste. – I often wonder if I’m making the right choices. - Ricordarsi – to remember
Non ti ricordi dove hai lasciato il cellulare? – Don’t you remember where you left your phone? - Fermarsi – to stop oneself
Ci fermiamo sempre a prendere un caffè lungo la strada. – We always stop for a coffee along the way. - Nascondersi – to hide oneself
I bambini si nascondono durante il gioco del nascondino. – The children hide during hide-and-seek. - Stancarsi – to get tired
Ci stanchiamo sempre dopo una lunga camminata in montagna. – We always get tired after a long hike in the mountains.
Regular verbs
Here’s a list of regular verbs commonly used in daily routines. Please familiarize yourself with their usage and practice.
- Preparare – to prepare
Noi prepariamo il pranzo insieme ogni giorno. – We prepare lunch together every day. - Mangiare – to eat
Tu mangi alle 13 con i colleghi. – You eat at 1 pm with your colleagues. - Andare – to go
Sara va al lavoro alle 9 in punto. – Sara goes to work at 9 sharp. - Bere – to drink
Giulia e Marco bevono un caffè caldo ogni mattina. – Giulia and Marco drink a hot coffee every morning. - Leggere – to read
Noi leggiamo il giornale durante la colazione. – We read the newspaper during breakfast. - Scrivere – to write
Tu scrivi una email al tuo capo ogni mattina. – You write an email to your boss every morning. - Ascoltare – to listen
Voi ascoltate musica rilassante mentre studiate. – You (plural) listen to relaxing music while studying. - Lavorare – to work
Matteo lavora al computer per molte ore al giorno. – Matteo works on the computer for many hours a day. - Correre – to run
Io corro al parco prima di andare al lavoro. – I run in the park before going to work. - Guardare – to watch
Andrea e Sofia guardano un film insieme il venerdì sera. – Andrea and Sofia watch a movie together on Friday evening. - Accompagnare – to accompany
Anna accompagna i bambini a scuola ogni mattina. – Anna accompanies the children to school every morning. - Studiare – to study
Io studio italiano per un’ora ogni sera. – I study Italian for an hour every evening. - Telefonare – to call
Noi telefoniamo ai nostri amici per organizzare la serata. – We call our friends to plan the evening. - Comprare – to buy
Voi comprate frutta fresca al mercato ogni sabato. – You (plural) buy fresh fruit at the market every Saturday. - Stirare – to iron
Paolo stira le camicie per il lavoro. – Paolo irons shirts for work. - Cucinare – to cook
Io cucino la cena per tutta la famiglia ogni sera. – I cook dinner for the whole family every evening. - Fare – to do/make
Voi fate la spesa insieme al supermercato. – You (plural) do the shopping together at the supermarket. - Portare – to bring
Giorgio e Marta portano il cane a passeggio ogni sera. – Giorgio and Marta take the dog for a walk every evening. - Ricevere – to receive
Io ricevo molte email durante la giornata. – I receive many emails during the day. - Dormire – to sleep
Sofia dorme sette ore ogni notte. – Sofia sleeps seven hours every night. - Uscire – to go out
Marco e Sara escono dall’ufficio alle 18 ogni giorno. – Marco and Sara leave the office at 6 pm every day. - Chattare – to chat (online)
Io chatto con i miei amici la sera. – I chat with my friends in the evening. - Pagare – to pay
Tu paghi le bollette online il lunedì mattina. – You pay the bills online on Monday mornings. - Visitare – to visit
Elena visita i suoi genitori durante il fine settimana. – Elena visits her parents during the weekend. - Condividere – to share
Voi condividete le foto delle vacanze con gli amici. – You (plural) share vacation photos with friends. - Spedire – to send
Noi spediamo un pacco ogni mese. – We send a package every month. - Pulire – to clean
Io pulisco la casa ogni sabato mattina. – I clean the house every Saturday morning.
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Prima & Dopo
Prima and dopo are two important words in Italian used to talk about the order of events.
Prima means “before” and is used when something happens earlier or first. For example:
- “Prima di fare colazione, mi lavo.” – Before having breakfast, I wash myself.
Dopo means “after” and is used when something happens later or next. For example:
- “Dopo aver finito il lavoro, vado a casa.” – After finishing work, I go home.
Using the Infinitive
In Italian, when you use prima di (before) to talk about actions, the second verb is often in the infinitive form (the base form of the verb). The infinitive is used because you’re not conjugating the verb based on who is doing the action, but simply stating the action itself.
Example:
- Prima di + infinitive:
“Prima di uscire, mi preparo.” – Before going out, I get ready.
When using dopo to describe a completed action, you need to use dopo aver or dopo essere (depending on the verb) followed by the past participle. This construction indicates that one action is finished before the next begins.
- Dopo avere + past participle:
“Dopo avere mangiato, mi riposo.” – After eating, I rest.
Dopo essere + past participle:
- “Dopo essere uscito, vado al lavoro.” – After going out, I go to work.
Note: You will soon learn how to choose between essere and avere when forming the past tense. The rule is valid for other tense and it’s ubiquitous in italian. You don’t need to be too accurate now.
Common Questions
In this section, you will find examples of common questions you can use in Italian to talk about your daily routine. These questions will help you practice using time expressions and reflexive verbs, and they include both prima (before) and dopo (after) to describe the order of your activities. Use them as a guide to talk about your own day in Italian.
- A che ora ti svegli la mattina? – What time do you wake up in the morning?
- Che cosa fai prima di andare a lavoro? – What do you do before going to work?
- Cosa fai dopo essere tornato/a dal lavoro? – What do you do after coming back from work?
- Quando fai colazione la domenica? – When do you have breakfast on Sunday?
- Che cosa prepari per pranzo di solito? – What do you usually prepare for lunch?
- A che ora vai a lavorare? – What time do you go to work?
- Che cosa fai nel pomeriggio? – What do you do in the afternoon?
- Che cosa fai la sera dopo cena? – What do you do in the evening after dinner?
- Ti rilassi durante il fine settimana? – Do you relax ove the weekend?
- Quando vai a dormire la notte? – When do you go to bed at night?
Time Keywords
Understanding time-related vocabulary is essential when talking about daily routines in Italian. The following keywords will help you express when activities take place, whether in the morning, afternoon, or evening. You’ll also learn how to use days of the week to discuss schedules, as well as expressions for specific times of the day.
- Mattina – morning
Ogni mattina bevo un caffè prima di iniziare a lavorare. – Every morning I drink a coffee before starting work. - Pomeriggio – afternoon
Di pomeriggio mi piace leggere un libro nel giardino. – In the afternoon, I like to read a book in the garden. - Sera – evening
La sera guardo spesso un film con la mia famiglia. – In the evening, I often watch a movie with my family. - Notte – night
Di notte il quartiere è sempre molto silenzioso. – At night, the neighborhood is always very quiet. - Ora – hour
Ho solo un’ora per fare la pausa pranzo. – I only have an hour for lunch break. - Minuto – minute
Mi servono solo cinque minuti per prepararmi. – I only need five minutes to get ready. - Presto – early
Mi sveglio presto per fare una passeggiata. – I wake up early to take a walk. - Tardi – late
Ieri sono tornato a casa molto tardi dopo il lavoro. – Yesterday I came home very late after work. - Alle + time – at + time
Alle 8 del mattino prendo l’autobus per andare in ufficio. – At 8 in the morning I take the bus to go to the office. - Lunedì – Monday
Il lunedì è sempre difficile alzarsi dal letto. – Monday is always hard to get out of bed. - Martedì – Tuesday
Il martedì vado in palestra dopo il lavoro. – On Tuesday I go to the gym after work. - Mercoledì – Wednesday
Ogni mercoledì incontro i miei amici per un caffè. – Every Wednesday I meet my friends for a coffee. - Giovedì – Thursday
Il giovedì faccio la spesa al mercato. – On Thursday I do the shopping at the market. - Venerdì – Friday
Di venerdì organizziamo una cena in famiglia. – On Friday we organize a family dinner. - Sabato – Saturday
Il sabato mi piace dormire fino a tardi. – On Saturday I like to sleep late. - Domenica – Sunday
La domenica mi rilasso leggendo un libro. – On Sunday I relax by reading a book. - Primavera – spring
In primavera mi piace passeggiare tra i fiori. – In spring, I like walking among the flowers. - Estate – summer
D’estate andiamo al mare ogni fine settimana. – In summer, we go to the beach every weekend. - Autunno – autumn
In autunno raccogliamo le foglie cadute in giardino. – In autumn, we collect the fallen leaves in the garden. - Inverno – winter
In inverno preparo spesso cioccolata calda per riscaldarmi. – In winter, I often make hot chocolate to warm up. - Giorno – day
Durante il giorno lavoro al computer e organizzo le riunioni. – During the day I work on the computer and organize meetings. - Settimana – week
Ogni settimana faccio una lunga passeggiata nel parco. – Every week I take a long walk in the park. - Fine settimana – weekend
Il fine settimana di solito esco con gli amici. – On the weekend, I usually go out with friends. - Stagione – season
Ogni stagione ha il suo fascino particolare. – Every season has its unique charm. - Momento – moment
In questo momento sto leggendo un bel libro. – At this moment, I’m reading a good book.
Hai provato quel nuovo ristorante? – Listening Task
Let’s practice with a conversation where two people talk about their daily routines. Listen carefully and identify the activities and time expressions used in their conversation.
- 👩🏻 – Maria: Ciao Paolo! A che ora ti svegli di solito la mattina?
Hello Paolo! What time do you usually wake up in the morning? - 👨🏻🦰 – Paolo: Ciao Maria. Di solito mi sveglio alle 7, ma dipende dai giorni. A volte mi piace dormire un po’ di più. Tu invece? Sempre mattiniera?
Hi Maria. I usually wake up at 7, but it depends on the day. Sometimes I like to sleep in. What about you? Always an early riser? - 👩🏻 – Maria: Eh sì, mi sveglio quasi sempre alle 6. Mi piace alzarmi presto, fare colazione con calma e godermi un po’ di silenzio. È il mio momento preferito della giornata!
Oh yes, I almost always wake up at 6. I like getting up early, having breakfast calmly, and enjoying some silence. It’s my favorite time of the day! - 👨🏻🦰 – Paolo: Che brava! Io invece devo lottare con la sveglia. Spesso la rimando almeno una volta. Poi mi alzo in fretta e scappo in bagno!
Good for you! I, on the other hand, have to battle with my alarm. I often hit snooze at least once. Then I get up quickly and rush to the bathroom! - 👩🏻 – Maria: Anche la mia sveglia suona un paio di volte, ma non la rimando. A che ora cominci a lavorare?
Haha, my alarm rings a couple of times too, but I don’t snooze it. What time do you start work? - 👨🏻🦰 – Paolo: Di solito alle 9. Tu?
Usually at 9. And you? - 👩🏻 – Maria: Alle 8, così finisco prima e ho un po’ di tempo libero nel pomeriggio. A proposito, cosa fai dopo il lavoro?
At 8, so I finish earlier and have some free time in the afternoon. By the way, what do you do after work? - 👨🏻🦰 – Paolo: Dipende. A volte vado in palestra, altre volte semplicemente crollo sul divano. Ultimamente sto cercando di leggere di più, ma non è facile! Tu?
It depends. Sometimes I go to the gym, other times I just crash on the couch. Lately, I’ve been trying to read more, but it’s not easy! What about you? - 👩🏻 – Maria: Anch’io cerco di rilassarmi. La sera preparo una tisana, guardo una serie o leggo un libro. Qualche volta vado a cena con gli amici. A proposito, hai provato quel nuovo ristorante in centro?
Me too, I try to relax. In the evening, I make some tea, watch a series, or read a book. Sometimes I go out to dinner with friends. By the way, have you tried that new restaurant downtown? - 👨🏻🦰 – Paolo: Non ancora! Me l’hanno consigliato, ma non sono riuscito ad andarci. Tu sei stata?
Not yet! It was recommended to me, but I haven’t managed to go. Have you been? - 👩🏻 – Maria: Sì, ci sono stata la scorsa settimana. Ottimo cibo e atmosfera accogliente. Te lo consiglio! Magari ci andiamo insieme un giorno?
Yes, I went last week. Great food and a cozy atmosphere. I recommend it! Maybe we can go together sometime? - 👨🏻🦰 – Paolo: Ottima idea! Organizzo io, promesso. Ora devo scappare, però. Buona giornata, Maria!
Great idea! I’ll plan it, I promise. I have to run now, though. Have a great day, Maria! - 👩🏻 – Maria: Grazie, Paolo! Anche a te. Ci sentiamo presto!
Thanks, Paolo! You too. Talk soon!
Role-play
Now it’s your turn! In this role-play activity, you’ll practice having a conversation about your daily routine. Use the phrases and vocabulary you’ve learned, and feel free to personalize the conversation by changing the times and activities to match your own day. Work with a partner to take turns asking and answering questions about your routine.
A: Ciao! A che ora ti svegli?
B: Mi sveglio alle [Time]. E tu?
A: Mi sveglio alle [Time], poi mi preparo. A che ora vai a lavoro?
B: Vado a lavoro alle [Time]. E tu?
A: Vado a lavoro alle [Time]. È stato un piacere parlare con te!
B: Anche per me! A presto!
Now, it’s time to test your knowledge. In this quiz, you’ll answer questions related to the vocabulary, reflexive verbs, and time expressions you’ve learned today. Take your time and see how well you can apply what you’ve practiced. Good luck!
Exercise
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| Lesson | Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson 1 | Monday, January 13, 2025 or Sunday, January 12, 2025 | Daily Life: Talking About Routines |
| Lesson 2 | Monday, January 20, 2025 or Sunday, January 19, 2025 | Describing People and Their Characteristics |
| Lesson 3 | Monday, January 27, 2025 or Sunday, January 26, 2025 | Talking About Family and Relationships |
| Lesson 4 | Monday, February 3, 2025 or Sunday, February 2, 2025 | Hobbies and Free Time Activities |
| Lesson 5 | Monday, February 10, 2025 or Sunday, February 9, 2025 | Expressing Opinions and Preferences |
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