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How to Say ‘Excuse me, can I bother you for a moment?’ in Italian

Scusa, posso disturbarti un attimo?

SKOO-zah POHS-soh dee-stoor-BAR-tee oon AHT-tee-moh

[SKOO-zah POHS-soh dee-stoor-BAR-tee oon AHT-tee-moh]

🇮🇹 In Italy: Scusa is the informal version, natural with someone your own age. With someone clearly older, Scusi, posso disturbarla is safer.

Phrase Breakdown

Scusa,

SKOO-zah

Excuse me,

This is the informal way to get attention. Stress: SCÙ-sa.

Example

Scusa, è libero?

Excuse me, is it free?

Words in this phrase

Scusa

[SKOO-zah]

excuse me

Informal way to get someone's attention politely.

Example

Scusa, sai che ore sono?

Excuse me, do you know what time it is?

posso disturbarti

POHS-soh dee-stoor-BAR-tee

can I bother you

'Disturbarti' means 'to disturb you'. Stress: di-stur-BÀR-ti.

Example

Posso disturbarti per una domanda?

Can I bother you with a question?

Words in this phrase

posso

[POHS-soh]

I can

First-person singular of potere; expresses ability or possibility.

Example

Posso aiutarti dopo l'evento.

I can help you after the event.

disturbarti

[dee-stoor-BAR-tee]

to disturb you

Verb 'disturbare' (to bother) plus 'ti' (you), informal.

Example

Non voglio disturbarti.

I don't want to bother you.

un attimo?

oon AHT-tee-moh

for a moment?

'Attimo' means 'moment'. Stress the first syllable and say the double 't': ÀT-ti-mo.

Example

Aspetta un attimo.

Wait a moment.

Words in this phrase

[oon]

Indefinite article used before a masculine singular noun.

Example

In Un buon equilibrio, Un introduce l'idea di un balance positivo.

In 'Un buon equilibrio,' 'Un' introduces the idea of a positive balance.

attimo

[AHT-tee-moh]

moment

A very short time; 'un attimo' means 'a moment'.

Example

Aspetta un attimo, arrivo.

Wait a moment, I'm coming.

Guides for Italian learners

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