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How to Say ‘Excuse me, why aren't you going straight?’ in Italian

Scusi, perché non va dritto?

Skoo-zee pehr-KEH non vah DREET-toh

[Skoo-zee pehr-KEH non vah DREET-toh]

🇮🇹 In Italy: Opening with scusi makes this sound like a genuine question rather than an accusation. That tone matters, because drivers often have a real reason for the detour.

Phrase Breakdown

Scusi, perché

Skoo-zee pehr-KEH

Excuse me, why

A polite opener followed by 'why'. Stress SCU-si and per-CHÉ.

Example

Scusi, perché è chiuso?

Excuse me, why is it closed?

Words in this phrase

Scusi

[Skoo-zee]

Excuse me

A polite way to get someone's attention or apologize.

Example

Scusi, quanto costa?

Excuse me, how much does it cost?

perché

[pehr-KEH]

why

In questions, perché means 'why'; in answers it means 'because'.

Example

Perché sei in ritardo?

Why are you late?

non va dritto?

non vah DREET-toh

aren't you going straight?

Hold the double 't' in 'dritto' and let your voice rise at the end of the question.

Example

Non va dritto per il centro?

Aren't you going straight to the center?

Words in this phrase

non

[non]

not

Used to create the expression 'do not go unnoticed'.

Example

Con quel fascino "non" puoi passare inosservato.

With that charm, you "can't" go unnoticed.

[vah]

(you, formal) go

Formal 'you' form of the verb andare, to go.

Example

Lei va a Roma domani?

Are you going to Rome tomorrow?

dritto

[DREET-toh]

straight ahead

An adverb or adjective meaning straight, useful when following directions.

Example

Vada sempre Dritto per due minuti.

Go straight for two minutes.

Guides for Italian learners

Duolingo vs Busuu: Which Is Better for Actually Improving?Duolingo vs Busuu compared: a free gamified habit versus structured levels with corrections from native speakers. Which to choose, and when to use both.

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