How do you say "I should have told you right away." in Italian?

"I should have told you right away." in Italian is "Dovevo avvisarla subito.". This phrase is commonly used in Italy.

🙋➡️🗣️⚡

How to Say ‘I should have told you right away.’ in Italian

Q: What does "Dovevo avvisarla subito." mean in English?

"Dovevo avvisarla subito." means "I should have told you right away." in English. Usage tip: At the end of [avvisarla], the [la] means [you] in a formal way. Italian often attaches this kind of little word to the end of the verb: [chiamarla], [aiutarla].

Dovevo avvisarla subito.

doh-VEH-voh ah-vvee-ZAHR-lah SOO-bee-toh

[doh-VEH-voh ah-vvee-ZAHR-lah SOO-bee-toh]

💬 Usage Tip: At the end of [avvisarla], the [la] means [you] in a formal way. Italian often attaches this kind of little word to the end of the verb: [chiamarla], [aiutarla].

🇮🇹 In Italy: This sounds polite and responsibility-taking, which can quickly calm a payment dispute. In a taxi, that tone is more natural from the driver, but a learner may still hear it.

Phrase Breakdown

Dovevo avvisarla

doh-VEH-voh ah-vvee-ZAHR-lah

I had to inform her / I should have warned her

Expresses obligation in the past, with a polite object pronoun 'la' for formal 'her/you'.

Example

Dovevo avvisarla prima.

I had to inform her earlier.

Words in this phrase

Dovevo

[doh-VEH-voh]

I should have

Expresses an obligation that existed in the past.

Example

«Dovevo» chiedere prima se accettava la carta.

I “should have” asked earlier if he accepted card.

avvisarla

[ah-vvee-ZAHR-lah]

warn you; inform you

Polite form meaning to notify you.

Example

Era corretto «avvisarla» prima della corsa.

It was right to “inform you” before the ride.

subito

[SOO-bee-toh]

immediately

Means at once or right away.

Example

Bisognava parlarne «subito» all'inizio.

It was necessary to talk about it “immediately” at the start.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Spent the summer in Tuscany researching Italian cuisine. Being able to chat with nonnas at the market about recipes? Absolutely priceless.”

Grace P., 34, Food Writer

“Working on a project in Milan and needed professional Italian fast. The business scenarios gave me the confidence to present to clients within a month.”

Daniel F., 45, Architect

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer