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How to Say ‘I have to go back to work’ in Italian

Devo tornare al lavoro

DEH-voh tor-NAH-reh ahl lah-VOH-roh

[DEH-voh tor-NAH-reh ahl lah-VOH-roh]

💬 Usage Tip: devo "I have to" is followed by the plain verb: devo andare "I have to go". al is a "to" plus il "the".

Phrase Breakdown

Devo tornare

DEH-voh tor-NAH-reh

I have to go back

'Devo' means I must. Stress DE-vo and tor-NA-re.

Example

Devo tornare a casa.

I have to go back home.

Words in this phrase

Devo

[DEH-voh]

I must

First person singular of needing or having to do something.

Example

Devo studiare.

I must study.

tornare

[tor-NAH-reh]

to return / go back

Verb meaning to come back or return to a state.

Example

Voglio tornare a casa.

I want to go back home.

al lavoro

ahl lah-VOH-roh

to work

'Al' is 'a + il' (to the). Stress la-VO-ro.

Example

Vado al lavoro in bici.

I go to work by bike.

Words in this phrase

[ahl]

to the

'Al' is a contraction of 'a' (to) and 'il' (the), often used to indicate flavor or type.

Example

Abbiamo ordinato il gelato al cioccolato.

We ordered the chocolate ice cream.

lavoro

[lah-VOH-roh]

work

Refers to professional activity, job duties, or working life.

Example

Lavoro e vita privata è una combinazione importante quando valuti un'azienda.

'Work and private life' is an important combination when you evaluate a company.

Guides for Italian learners

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