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PhrasesAt the Bus StopA che ora passa il primo autobus?
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A che ora passa il primo autobus?

What time does the first bus come?

Pronunciation

'Ora' is 'O-ra' — short and clear. Do not add an 'h' sound as in English 'hour'.

When to use it

Use this early in the morning when you need to know the first departure of the day. Also useful the evening before when planning an early-morning trip.

What it means

'A che ora' means 'at what time' and is the standard Italian way to ask about schedules. 'Passa' (passes/comes) is preferred over 'viene' (comes) for public transport. 'Primo' agrees in gender with 'autobus' (masculine).

Variations

A che ora passa l'ultimo autobus?

What time does the last bus come?

Replace 'primo' with 'ultimo' for the last service of the day.

C'è un autobus prima delle sette?

Is there a bus before seven o'clock?

Useful when you have a specific time constraint.

Qual è l'orario del primo autobus?

What is the timetable for the first bus?

More formal; 'orario' can mean timetable or schedule.

Mini Dialogue

— A che ora passa il primo autobus? — Alle cinque e mezza di mattina. — Così presto? Perfetto, grazie! — Sì, è la linea notturna.

— What time does the first bus come? — At five thirty in the morning. — That early? Perfect, thank you! — Yes, it's the night line.

Cultural Note

Many Italian cities have a 'linea notturna' (night line) with limited stops. In smaller towns service may not begin until 7 or 8 AM, so always check local apps or the posted orario at the stop.