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How to Say ‘There's a lot of traffic downtown at this time.’ in Italian

In centro c'è molto traffico a quest'ora.

een CHEN-troh cheh eh MOHL-toh TRAHF-fee-koh ah kwest OH-rah

[een CHEN-troh cheh eh MOHL-toh TRAHF-fee-koh ah kwest OH-rah]

Phrase Breakdown

In centro

een CHEN-troh

Downtown / in the city center

'Centro' is pronounced 'CHEN-tro'. A 'c' before 'e' sounds like English 'ch'.

Example

Abito in centro.

I live downtown.

Words in this phrase

[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.

centro

[CHEN-troh]

center / downtown

Often refers to the city center or downtown area.

Example

Voglio andare in centro. Il centro è molto bello di sera.

I want to go downtown. The center is very beautiful in the evening.

c'è molto traffico

cheh eh MOHL-toh TRAHF-fee-koh

there is a lot of traffic

'C'è' (there is) sounds like 'cheh'. Stress the first syllable of 'TRAF-fi-co' and hold the double 'ff'.

Example

Oggi c'è molto traffico.

There is a lot of traffic today.

Words in this phrase

[cheh]

there

Part of 'c'è,' the expression for 'there is.'

Example

Qui c'è un po' troppo rumore per sentirti bene.

There's a bit too much noise here to hear you well.

[eh]

Third-person singular of 'essere'; used to describe a person, company, or situation.

Example

Quando dici È in È molto umana, stai descrivendo l'azienda.

When you say 'È' in 'È molto umana,' you are describing the company.

molto

[MOHL-toh]

a lot of

Used before a noun, it means much or a lot of.

Example

Ho molto lavoro oggi.

I have a lot of work today.

traffico

[TRAHF-fee-koh]

traffic

Vehicles moving on roads; congestion.

Example

Il traffico è terribile stasera.

The traffic is terrible tonight.

a quest'ora.

ah kwest OH-rah

at this hour / at this time

'Quest'ora' is 'questa ora' shortened. Say it as one word: 'kweh-STOH-ra'.

Example

Il negozio è chiuso a quest'ora.

The shop is closed at this hour.

Words in this phrase

[ah]

Used with time expressions.

Example

Ci vediamo a quest'ora domani.

See you at this time tomorrow.

quest'

[kwest]

this

Shortened 'questa' before a vowel.

Example

Quest'anno vado a Roma.

This year I'm going to Rome.

ora

[OH-rah]

hour / time

A noun meaning hour or time, used in questions about schedules.

Example

A che ora arriva l'autobus?

What time does the bus arrive?

Guides for Italian learners

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