Breakdown of Veniamo alle otto, cioè un po’ prima dell’inizio.
noi
we
prima di
before
venire
to come
un po’
a bit
otto
eight
l'inizio
the start
alle
at
cioè
that is
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Questions & Answers about Veniamo alle otto, cioè un po’ prima dell’inizio.
Why is the present tense veniamo used to talk about the future?
Italian often uses the simple present for scheduled or near-future actions. So Veniamo alle otto naturally means “We’ll come at eight.” You can also use the future, Verremo alle otto, but the present is very common in speech for fixed plans.
Could I say Arriviamo alle otto instead of Veniamo alle otto?
Yes. Venire means “to come (toward where the listener is),” while arrivare is “to arrive” (neutral). If you’re talking to someone at the destination, veniamo subtly highlights you’re coming to them; arriviamo is fully acceptable and slightly more neutral.
Why is it alle otto and not “a otto”?
Times take the definite article because ore (hours) is implicit and feminine plural: le otto. The preposition and article contract: a + le = alle. Examples: alle tre, all’una (a + la → alla; but before a vowel la elides: all’), a mezzogiorno, a mezzanotte.
What does cioè add here?
Cioè means “that is,” “I mean,” or “namely.” It introduces a clarification or rephrasing: “at eight—more precisely, a bit before the start.” In more formal writing you might see ossia or vale a dire; ovvero can also mean “that is,” though nowadays it often means “or rather.”
Do I need a comma before cioè?
Yes, it’s standard to set cioè off with a comma because it’s parenthetical or explanatory: Veniamo alle otto, cioè … If it’s inserted mid-sentence, many writers use commas on both sides: …, cioè, … A dash or parentheses can also be used in more stylized writing.
What’s with the apostrophe in un po’?
Po’ is a shortened form of poco, so it takes an apostrophe to mark the omission. The spelling un pò (with an accent) is wrong. You can use un poco (spelled out) for a slightly more formal or emphatic tone, but un po’ is the most common.
Is poco prima the same as un po’ prima?
They’re close, but nuance differs. Poco prima often suggests “shortly before” (a small interval) and can sound a bit more neutral/formal. Un po’ prima is colloquial “a little earlier,” without specifying how little.
Why dell’inizio and not “del inizio”?
It’s the contraction of the preposition and the article before a vowel: di + l’ = dell’. Since inizio starts with a vowel, you write dell’inizio. Before a consonant you’d see del: del concerto, del film.
Why prima dell’inizio and not all’inizio?
Prima di means “before,” indicating an earlier time point. All’inizio means “at the beginning,” i.e., when the event starts. Here you want “a little before,” so prima dell’inizio is correct.
How do I say “before it starts” instead of “before the start”?
Use:
- Prima che
- subjunctive: un po’ prima che inizi (lo spettacolo).
- Prima di
- infinitive (same subject as the main clause): un po’ prima di iniziare.
Is Verremo alle otto also correct?
Yes. It’s perfectly correct and may sound a bit more formal or like a promise/commitment. For everyday plans, the present veniamo is extremely common.
How do I say “around eight” or “by eight”?
- “Around eight”: verso le otto, intorno alle otto.
- “By eight” (deadline): entro le otto.
- Colloquial “by/about eight” (target time, a bit flexible): per le otto (can mean “for eight” as a planned time or “by around eight,” so it’s a bit looser).
Do I need to say Noi veniamo?
No. Subject pronouns are usually dropped because the verb ending shows the subject. Use Noi veniamo only for emphasis or contrast (e.g., “We are coming, not them”).
Can I say Stiamo venendo alle otto?
That sounds odd for a scheduled time. Stiamo venendo is the present progressive and means “we’re on our way (right now).” For timetabled future arrivals, use Veniamo alle otto or Verremo alle otto.
Why is it le otto and not “gli otto”?
Because the implied word ore (hours) is feminine plural: le (ore) otto. This is also why you say le due e mezza (“half past two,” with feminine mezza).
Spelling check: is it cioe or cioè, and po’ or pò?
The correct forms are cioè (with a grave accent on the final e) and po’ (with an apostrophe). Cioe and pò are considered wrong in standard writing. Using a straight apostrophe in po' is fine when you can’t type the curly one.