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How to Say ‘Can I take this backpack on board?’ in Italian

Posso portare questo zaino a bordo?

POHS-soh por-TAH-reh KWES-toh DZAI-noh ah BOR-doh

[POHS-soh por-TAH-reh KWES-toh DZAI-noh ah BOR-doh]

Phrase Breakdown

Posso portare

POHS-soh por-TAH-reh

Can I bring

This polite request means 'can I bring'. Hold the double 's' in 'posso'.

Example

Posso portare il cane?

Can I bring the dog?

Words in this phrase

Posso

[POHS-soh]

can I / may I

First person singular of potere; used to ask for permission politely.

Example

Prima di sedermi, chiedo: "Posso sedermi qui?"

Before sitting down, I ask: "Can I sit here?"

portare

[por-TAH-reh]

to carry / to take

The infinitive meaning to carry or to take. In café phrases it appears in da portare via, to take away.

Example

Ho un caffè da portare al tavolo.

I have a coffee to bring to the table.

questo zaino a bordo?

KWES-toh DZAI-noh ah BOR-doh

this backpack on board?

'A bordo' means 'on board'. Raise your intonation at the end: DZAI-noh ah BOR-doh?

Example

Siamo tutti a bordo?

Are we all on board?

Words in this phrase

questo

[KWES-toh]

This

A demonstrative pronoun referring to something nearby or soon.

Example

Questo lunedì iniziamo il nuovo progetto.

This Monday we start the new project.

zaino

[DZAI-noh]

backpack

Masculine noun for a bag carried on the back.

Example

Il mio zaino è pesante.

My backpack is heavy.

[ah]

to / at

Preposition meaning 'to' or 'at,' depending on context; with 'casa' it often means 'home.'

Example

Dopo la discussione, voglio andare a casa subito.

After the discussion, I want to go home right away.

bordo

[BOR-doh]

board

Noun meaning the side of a ship; 'a bordo' means on board.

Example

Benvenuti a bordo!

Welcome on board!

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