FastItalian LearningSign in
PhrasesMaking PlansTi va un aperitivo dopo il lavoro?
A2informal

Ti va un aperitivo dopo il lavoro?

Do you feel like an aperitivo after work?

Pronunciation

'Aperitivo' = a-pe-ri-TI-vo, stress on fourth syllable. 'Lavoro' = la-VO-ro.

When to use it

Use this for a classic, flexible Italian social plan. The aperitivo after work is one of Italy's most beloved rituals — it sits between the working day and the evening, requires no advance planning, and can be as brief or as extended as desired.

What it means

'Ti va' (do you feel like/want) is from 'andare' used impersonally — 'it goes to you' = 'it appeals to you'. 'Dopo il lavoro' (after work) is the standard Italian expression for the post-work social window. 'Un aperitivo' (an aperitivo) often implies the whole social ritual of a pre-dinner drink.

Variations

Passiamo da qualche bar dopo?

Shall we stop by some bar afterwards?

More casual phrasing with implied flexibility

Quando stacchi? Potremmo bere qualcosa insieme.

When do you finish? We could have a drink together.

'Staccare' (to clock off) — informal for finishing work

Ci fermiamo a bere qualcosa prima di cena?

Shall we stop for a drink before dinner?

Framing the aperitivo as pre-dinner rather than post-work

Mini Dialogue

— Ti va un aperitivo dopo il lavoro? — Ottima idea! A che ora stacchi? — Alle sei e mezza. Ci vediamo alle sette? — Perfetto! Al solito bar sotto casa tua?

— Do you feel like an aperitivo after work? — Excellent idea! When do you finish? — At six thirty. Shall we meet at seven? — Perfect! At the usual bar below your place?

Cultural Note

The aperitivo ritual (from Latin 'aperire' — to open, as in opening the appetite) typically happens between 6 and 8pm. In Milan, the 'aperitivo milanese' often includes a substantial buffet with the drink — effectively making it a light dinner ('apericentro'). The Aperol Spritz and Negroni are the iconic aperitivo drinks of northern Italy.