How to say “when”: Italian grammar lesson 40

Q: What is the meaning of 'quando'?

Quando in Italian can mean 'when' and 'once'.

Key Takeaways

Quando means both when and once, used similarly to English in various contexts.
Quando functions as an interrogative adverb to ask about specific times, like birthdays or arrivals.
As a conjunction, quando links sentences, indicating events occurring simultaneously, such as arrivals or unexpected events.
Prepositions can follow quando, altering its meaning, like da quando (since when) and per quando (by when).
Common expressions include Quando mai? (When ever) and Di quando in quando (From time to time), enriching conversational Italian.

Stefano's Insights

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Ah, il meraviglioso mondo di 'quando'! Questa parolina è un vero camaleonte della lingua italiana. Può essere un avverbio interrogativo, una congiunzione e persino far parte di espressioni idiomatiche. Ricordo quando, da studente, mi confondevo con 'quando mai?' pensando fosse una domanda seria, solo per scoprire che era un modo sarcastico per dire 'ma quando mai?!'. Può essere usato con preposizioni come 'da quando' o 'fino a quando', rendendolo versatile come un coltellino svizzero. Insomma, 'quando' è un must per chiunque voglia padroneggiare l'italiano. Non sottovalutatelo!

Ah, the wonderful world of 'quando'! This little word is a true chameleon in the Italian language. It can be an interrogative adverb, a conjunction, and even part of idiomatic expressions. I remember as a student getting confused by 'quando mai?' thinking it was a serious question, only to find out it was a sarcastic way to say 'yeah, right!'. It can be used with prepositions like 'da quando' or 'fino a quando', making it as versatile as a Swiss army knife. In short, 'quando' is a must for anyone wanting to master Italian. Don't underestimate it!

Quick facts

What does "quando" mean in Italian?

"Quando" means "when" and "once," similar to its usage in English, and is a key word for forming questions and statements about time.

How is "quando" used as an interrogative adverb?

"Quando" asks about the timing of an event, e.g., "When is your daughter's birthday?" or "When did you arrive?"

Can "quando" function as a conjunction in sentences?

Yes, "quando" links two clauses to indicate timing, e.g., "It started raining when I arrived."

How does "da quando" modify the meaning of "quando"?

"Da quando" means "since when" and signifies the starting point of an interest or event, e.g., "Since when are you interested in politics?"

What does "per quando" imply in a sentence?

"Per quando" means "when for" or "by the time," used to mark deadlines or future events, e.g., "When did you get your appointment for?"

How is "fino a quando" used in Italian?

"Fino a quando" means "until when," indicating a time limit or duration, e.g., "Until when can we stay?"

What does the expression "Quando mai?" imply?

"Quando mai?" is a rhetorical question used to signify that something never happened, e.g., "When have you ever seen me smoke?"

How is "di quando in quando" used in conversation?

"Di quando in quando" means "from time to time," indicating occasional activities, e.g., "I like going swimming from time to time."

How does "quando" help in everyday Italian questions?

"Quando" is essential for asking about the timing of daily activities, such as travel plans or appointments, making it a versatile interrogative tool.

Can "quando" be used to express future intentions?

Yes, "quando" can indicate future plans or actions upon completion of another task, e.g., "I will go out once I'm done studying."

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Main Article

What is quando in Italian?

Quando is one of the Italian Five Ws (chi, cosa, dove, quando, perché) and is a must-know for Italian students.

The meaning of quando can be both when and once, just like in English. Here are some examples:

Quando parti per il Brasile?

When are you leaving for Brazil?

Chiamami quando finisci di lavorare.

Call me when you finish work.

Uscirò quando ho finito di studiare.

I will go out once I’m done studying.

How to use quando?

Quando can be used both as an interrogative adverb, to ask when something happened or is happening, or as a conjunction to link two sentences or to talk about a specific time.

Examples as an interrogative adverb:

Quando compie gli anni tua figlia?

When is your daughter’s birthday?

Quando siete arrivati?

When did you arrive?

Quando l’hai chiamato?

When did you call him?

Examples as a conjunction:

Ha iniziato a piovere quando sono arrivata.

It started raining when I arrived.

È arrivato proprio quando non me lo aspettavo.

It arrived when I did not expect it.

Quando è nato Giorgio eravamo felicissimi.

We were so happy when Giorgio was born.

How to use quando with prepositions?

The word quando in Italian can be followed by various prepositions to express different meanings, all related to time.

Have a look at the sentences below for some examples:

da quando (since when)

Da quando t’interessa la politica?

Since when you’re interested in politics?

Sono passate settimane da quando l’ho vista l’ultima volta.

Weeks have passed since I last saw her.

per quando(when for or by the time)

Per quando ha preso appuntamento?

When did you get your appointment for?

Spero che sarà tutto a posto per quando arrivo.

I hope everything will be ok by the time I arrive.

fino a quando or fin quando(until)

Starò qui fin quando torni.

I will stay here until you come back.

Fino a quando possiamo rimanere?

Until when can we stay?

Potete rimanere fino a quando volete!

You can stay as long as you want!

Common Italian expressions with quando

Quando can also be found in some common Italian expressions such as:

Quando mai? (Since when? or when … ever)

This can be used on its own, or in a sentence, as a rhetorical question implying that never happened:

Quando mai mi hai visto fumare?

When have you ever seen me smoke?

Di quando in quando (Sometimes or from time to time)

Di quando in quando mi piace andare a nuotare.

I like going swimming from time to time.

Key Terms and Concepts

Quando

Quando means "when" or "once". It functions as both an interrogative adverb and a conjunction, linking sentences or asking about time.

Interrogative Adverb

An adverb used to ask questions, such as quando to inquire about the timing of events in Italian.

Conjunction

A word like quando that connects clauses or sentences, often indicating when an event occurs in relation to another.

Da quando

A phrase meaning "since when", used to inquire about the duration or starting point of an interest or activity.

Per quando

Translates to "when for" or "by the time", expressing the timing of appointments or future events.

Fino a quando/Fin quando

These phrases mean "until" or "as long as", indicating the duration until a certain condition is met.

Di quando in quando

An expression meaning "from time to time" or "sometimes", used to describe occasional actions or events.

Test your knowledge in 10 quick questions

Words

quandowhen

una voltaonce

interrogativointerrogative

avverbioadverb

congiunzioneconjunction

frasephrase

preposizionepreposition

espressioneexpression

tempotime

domandaquestion

Phrases

quandowhen/once

da quandosince when

per quandoby the time

quando mai?since when?

di quando in quandofrom time to time

finchéas long as

mentrewhile

allorchéwhen (formal)

ogni volta cheevery time that

nel momento in cuiat the moment when

Sentences

Quando sei arrivato in Italia?

When did you arrive in Italy?

Inizieremo la riunione quando tutti saranno presenti.

We will start the meeting when everyone is present.

Da quando hai iniziato a studiare l'italiano?

Since when have you been studying Italian?

Per quando pensi di finire il progetto?

By when do you expect to finish the project?

Di quando in quando vado al cinema da solo.

From time to time, I go to the cinema alone.

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Answers

FAQs

What is the meaning of "quando"?

Quando in Italian can mean "when" and "once".

How to use "quando" as an interrogative adverb?

Is used to ask when something happened or is happening.

How to use "quando" as a conjunction?

To link two sentences or to talk about a specific time.

How to use "quando" with time-related prepositions?

It can express different meanings such as since when (da quando), when for or by the time (per quando), and until (fino a quando).

Italian word of the day

consegnare

Non potremo consegnare in tempo.

We will not be able to deliver it in time.