The word for both clock and watch in Italian is orologio (masculine, plural: orologi). It comes from the Latin horologium which in turn derives from the Greek ὡρολόγιον (hōrológion), a combination of the words ὥρα (ora – hour) and λέγω (dire – to say/tell).
If you want to specify that you are talking about a wristwatch instead of a wall clock (orologio da muro / parete), you can use the more specific term orologio da polso.
Il mio orologio segna le dieci in punto.
My watch says that it is 10 o’clock on the dot.
Below are some common verbs you’ll often see used when talking about orologi in Italian:
- caricare un orologio = to wind up a clock
- guardare l’orologio = to look at the clock
- mettere avanti l’orologio = to put the clock forward
- mettere indietro l’orologio = to put the clock back
- ripristinare / resettare l’orologio = to reset the watch
A traditional clock or watch is made up of the following components:
- faccia / quadrante = face
- numeri = numbers
- bracciale / cinturino = strap
- corona = crown
- lancetta delle ore = hour hand
- lancetta dei minuti = minute hand
Although digital watches (orologi digitali) have become popular these days, many people still prefer the look and feel of a classic mechanical watch (orologio meccanico). Some other well-known kinds of orologi include:
- orologio solare = sundial
- orologio a pendolo = grandfather clock
- orologio da tasca = pocket watch
- orologio da torre = clock tower
- orologio a cucù = cuckoo clock
- orologio analogico = analog clock
- orologio biologico = biological clock
- orologio da sabbia / clessidra = hourglass / sand clock / egg timer
- orologio al quarzo = quartz clock
The expression d’orologio (literally of the clock) is another way of saying esattamente (exactly) in Italian. For example, the translation of the phrase Il concerto ha durato due ore d’orologio would be The concert lasted exactly two hours.
Expressions featuring the word ‘orologio’
Essere preciso / puntuale come un orologio svizzero
Literal translation: to be as precise / punctual as a Swiss watch
English meaning: to be extremely punctual, like clockwork
Stare con l’orologio alla mano
Literal translation: to stay with a watch in one’s hand
English meaning: to act with great punctuality and speed
Andare / funzionare come un orologio
Literal translation: to go / work like a clock
English meaning: to work with extreme precision
Heather Broster is a graduate with honours in linguistics from the University of Western Ontario. She is an aspiring polyglot, proficient in English and Italian, as well as Japanese, Welsh, and French to varying degrees of fluency. Originally from Toronto, Heather has resided in various countries, notably Italy for a period of six years. Her primary focus lies in the fields of language acquisition, education, and bilingual instruction.
