What time do you close?
'Chiudete' — kyu-DE-te. Three syllables.
Ask when you arrive at a bookshop and want to know how long you have. Italian bookshop hours vary — independent shops often close for lunch; chains stay open continuously.
'A che ora chiudete?' — 'at what time do you close?' (second-person plural). 'Chiudere' = to close. Italian shops typically open 9:30–13:00 and 15:30–19:30 (with a lunch break in smaller towns) or continuously 9:00–20:00 in chains and major cities.
Siete aperti il sabato?
Are you open on Saturdays?
Checks weekend hours.
Fate la pausa pranzo?
Do you close for lunch?
Asks about the lunch break.
A che ora aprite domani?
What time do you open tomorrow?
For the next day.
Sunday morning bookshop opening ('apertura domenicale') is a cherished Italian tradition, particularly in university cities. Many Italians browse bookshops on Sunday mornings as a cultural ritual before lunch. It is one of the few retail categories where Sunday opening is widely accepted.