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How to Say ‘My GPS said to go via Via Nazionale.’ in Italian

Il navigatore mi indicava di passare per Via Nazionale.

eel nah-vee-gah-TOH-reh mee een-dee-KAH-vah dee pahs-SAH-reh pehr VEE-ah naht-syoh-NAH-leh

[eel nah-vee-gah-TOH-reh mee een-dee-KAH-vah dee pahs-SAH-reh pehr VEE-ah naht-syoh-NAH-leh]

🇮🇹 In Italy: Mentioning your own GPS is a polite way to show you know the area. Drivers are less likely to take a long way with someone who's checking.

Phrase Breakdown

Il navigatore

eel nah-vee-gah-TOH-reh

The GPS / sat nav

'Navigatore' is the car navigation system. Stress 'TO': na-vi-ga-TO-re.

Example

Il navigatore non funziona.

The GPS isn't working.

Words in this phrase

Il

[eel]

the

Masculine singular definite article used before a masculine singular noun.

Example

Nella frase Il tempo personale, Il introduce il concetto di tempo privato.

In the phrase 'Il tempo personale,' 'Il' introduces the concept of private time.

navigatore

[nah-vee-gah-TOH-reh]

GPS / navigator

Satellite navigation device or app.

Example

Il navigatore non funziona.

The GPS isn't working.

mi indicava

mee een-dee-KAH-vah

was telling me / was showing me

This is the imperfect of 'indicare'. Stress 'CA': in-di-CA-va.

Example

La mappa mi indicava un'altra strada.

The map was showing me another road.

Words in this phrase

mi

[mee]

to me

Indirect object pronoun meaning to me; used to express personal reaction.

Example

Nella frase Mi fa piacere, Mi indica la persona che prova la sensazione.

In the phrase 'Mi fa piacere,' 'Mi' indicates the person feeling the emotion.

indicava

[een-dee-KAH-vah]

was indicating

Imperfect of 'indicare' (to indicate, show).

Example

Il cartello indicava il centro.

The sign was pointing to the center.

di passare

dee pahs-SAH-reh

to go

Here 'di' introduces the infinitive. Hold the double 's'.

Example

Ti consiglio di passare domani.

I suggest you come by tomorrow.

Words in this phrase

di

[dee]

to

Preposition introducing the following infinitive verb.

Example

Al bancone chiedo: "Ti va di fare due chiacchiere?"

At the bar counter I ask: "Do you feel like chatting a bit?"

passare

[pahs-SAH-reh]

to pass / to go through

Infinitive; 'passare per' means to go via a place.

Example

Possiamo passare per il ponte.

We can go over the bridge.

per Via Nazionale.

pehr VEE-ah naht-syoh-NAH-leh

along Via Nazionale.

This names the street to take. Say it as na-tsio-NA-le.

Example

C'è traffico per Via Nazionale.

There's traffic along Via Nazionale.

Words in this phrase

per

[pehr]

through / via

Indicates the route taken.

Example

Passiamo per Roma.

We go through Rome.

Via

[VEE-ah]

Street

Used before street names.

Example

Abito in Via Roma.

I live on Via Roma.

Nazionale

[naht-syoh-NAH-leh]

National

Adjective; here part of a famous Rome street name.

Example

La squadra nazionale ha vinto.

The national team won.

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