tempo
/ˈtɛm.po/
Definition
The word for both "time" (as in a period or duration) and "weather" in Italian. Context makes the meaning clear.
Example
Non ho tempo per uscire con questo tempo.
Show translation
I don't have time to go out in this weather.
Etymology
From Latin *tempus* ("time, season, weather"), which also gave English "temporary," "tense" (grammatical), and "temporal." The dual meaning of time and weather is inherited directly from Latin, where *tempus* covered both concepts.
Cultural note
The double meaning of *tempo* is one of the most famous false-friend traps for English speakers. Saying "Che tempo fa?" means "What's the weather like?" — not "What time is it?" (which is "Che ore sono?"). Italians navigate the ambiguity effortlessly through context, but learners should watch out. Discussing the weather (*tempo*) is just as much a national small-talk ritual in Italy as it is in the UK.