La mia giornata: simple Italian daily routine phrases (A1)

Want to describe your day in Italian? In this lesson, you’ll learn easy phrases for la mia giornata — my day — and how to talk about time, habits, and simple actions like waking up, eating, and going to work. We’ll keep it practical and A1-friendly, with short examples and quick exercises so you can use them right away.

Essential daily routine verbs

Here are common verbs you’ll use every day. Read the examples and repeat them out loud.

svegliarsi
to wake up (reflexive)
verb
Mi sveglio alle sette.
I wake up at seven.
alzarsi
to get up (reflexive)
verb
Mi alzo subito.
I get up right away.
lavarsi
to wash oneself (reflexive)
verb
Mi lavo la faccia.
I wash my face.
fare colazione
to have breakfast
verb
Faccio colazione alle otto.
I have breakfast at eight.
andare al lavoro
to go to work
verb
Vado al lavoro.
I go to work.
pranzare
to have lunch
verb
Pranzo a mezzogiorno.
I have lunch at noon.
tornare a casa
to return home
verb
Torno a casa alle sei.
I go back home at six.
cenare
to have dinner
verb
Ceno alle otto.
I have dinner at eight.
dormire
to sleep
verb
Dormo bene.
I sleep well.
Italian
La mattina mi sveglio, mi alzo e faccio colazione.
In the morning I wake up, get up, and have breakfast.

Mi alle sette.

Io colazione alle otto.

Noi a casa alle sei.

Culture note: Italian mornings

Breakfast (colazione) is often light: coffee (un caffè) or cappuccino, sometimes a pastry (un cornetto). Many Italians have lunch later (around 13:00) and dinner (cena) around 20:00 or even 21:00, especially in the evening with friends or family.

Talking about time and habits

Use these words to say when things happen and how often.

Italian
di solito = usually
Example: Di solito faccio colazione alle sette e mezza.
Italian
sempre = always
Example: Vado sempre al lavoro alle nove.
Italian
mai = never
Example: Non guardo mai la TV la mattina.
Italian
la mattina / il pomeriggio / la sera / la notte
In the morning / in the afternoon / in the evening / at night
Io sveglio alle otto. → Mi sveglio alle otto. Reflexive verb: use the pronoun (mi/ti/si/etc.) + verb. Faccio colazione a le nove. → Faccio colazione alle nove. Combine "a + le" = "alle" before plural feminine nouns like hours.
🧠 Time and routine basics

Reflexive verbs (mi, ti, si…): talk about actions you do to yourself

Many daily actions in Italian are reflexive: svegliarsi (to wake up), alzarsi (to get up), lavarsi (to wash oneself). You add a pronoun before the verb:

  • io mi
  • tu ti
  • lui/lei si
  • noi ci
  • voi vi
  • loro si Examples:
  • Mi sveglio alle sette.
  • Ti alzi tardi?
  • Si lava le mani.
  • Ci alziamo presto.
  • Vi addormentate alle dieci?
  • Si riposano nel pomeriggio.
Italian
Mi alzo alle sette e mezza.
I get up at half past seven.
🔠 Put the words in order

Make a natural sentence about routine time

Regular -are verbs in the present

Many routine verbs are regular -are verbs (like lavorare, tornare). Learn the pattern with lavorare (to work):

lavorare presente
Pronoun Conjugation
io lavoro
tu lavori
lui/lei lavora
noi lavoriamo
voi lavorate
loro lavorano

Mini conversation: asking about your day

Put the lines in the correct order and practice aloud.

💬 A che ora ti svegli?

Practice: build your own routine

Now make your routine with short, simple sentences. Use time + action.

  • Alle sette mi sveglio.
  • Alle sette e dieci mi alzo.
  • Alle otto faccio colazione.
  • Alle nove vado al lavoro.
  • A mezzogiorno pranzo.
  • Alle sei torno a casa.
  • Alle otto ceno.
  • Alle undici dormo.

Di solito al lavoro alle nove.

Alle otto , poi vado al lavoro.

La sera la TV.

svegliar(e) infinitive verb (to wake) si reflexive pronoun (oneself)

Cultural snapshot: meal times and greetings

  • Italians may greet with "Buongiorno" (good morning) until afternoon, then "Buonasera" (good evening).
  • Lunch (pranzo) is important; many people take a break and eat a proper meal.
  • Dinner (cena) can be later than in many countries. If you say "Ceno alle otto," that’s perfectly normal.
  • Coffee culture: people often drink espresso quickly at the bar. Cappuccino is usually a morning drink.
Italian
La sera ceno con la famiglia.
In the evening I have dinner with the family.

Wrap-up

You can now talk about your daily routine in Italian using simple present verbs, reflexive forms, and time expressions. Keep sentences short and clear. Practice by writing 5 lines starting with Di solito… and read them out loud. A little every day (ogni giorno) builds your confidence! Buon studio!