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How to Say ‘I know, but there's roadwork there.’ in Italian

Lo so, ma lì ci sono lavori in corso.

lo soh mah LEE chee SOH-noh lah-VOH-ree een KOHR-soh

[lo soh mah LEE chee SOH-noh lah-VOH-ree een KOHR-soh]

Phrase Breakdown

Lo so,

lo soh

I know,

A very common set expression. Both 'o' sounds are short and open, followed by a small pause.

Example

Lo so, hai ragione.

I know, you're right.

Words in this phrase

[lo]

Used to refer to an object or thing mentioned earlier.

Example

Lo vedo ogni giorno.

I see it every day.

[soh]

I know

'So' is the first-person singular present indicative of 'sapere', meaning 'to know'.

Example

So dove trovare un buon gelato.

I know where to find good ice cream.

ma lì ci sono

mah LEE chee SOH-noh

but over there there are

'Lì' (there) carries a stress mark. 'Ci sono' means 'there are' and is pronounced 'chee SOH-no'.

Example

Lì ci sono due bar.

There are two cafés over there.

Words in this phrase

[mah]

But

Used to introduce something contrasting with what has already been mentioned.

Example

Voglio uscire, ma è tardi.

I want to go out, but it's late.

lì

[LEE]

there

An adverb indicating a specific place, usually a little away from where you are now.

Example

Possiamo andare lì, dove c'è meno rumore.

We can go there, where there is less noise.

[chee]

there

In that place or situation.

Example

Ci provo davvero a essere puntuale.

I really try to be on time.

sono

[SOH-noh]

they are

Plural verb form used to describe plural nouns like mushrooms.

Example

Sono piccoli ma molto saporiti i finferli.

They are small but very tasty, the chanterelles.

lavori in corso.

lah-VOH-ree een KOHR-soh

roadworks / works in progress.

A fixed phrase seen on road signs. Say it 'la-VO-ri in KOR-so'.

Example

Attenzione, lavori in corso.

Caution, roadworks ahead.

Words in this phrase

lavori

[lah-VOH-ree]

works / roadworks

Plural of 'lavoro'; 'lavori' often means construction works.

Example

Ci sono lavori in centro.

There are roadworks downtown.

[een]

Preposition used to indicate being inside or part of a place or organization.

Example

Uso "in" quando parlo del lavoro in un'organizzazione.

I use "in" when I talk about working in an organization.

corso

[KOHR-soh]

progress / course

In the phrase 'in corso' it means ongoing, in progress.

Example

La riunione è in corso.

The meeting is in progress.

Guides for Italian learners

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