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How to Say ‘Sorry, I'm a little late.’ in Italian

Scusa, sono un po' in ritardo.

SKOO-zah SOH-noh oon poh een ree-TAR-doh

[SKOO-zah SOH-noh oon poh een ree-TAR-doh]

🇮🇹 In Italy: Ten or fifteen minutes late is usually shrugged off in Italy, but a quick apology still lands well on a first date.

Phrase Breakdown

Scusa,

SKOO-zah

Sorry,

This is the informal 'sorry', used with a friend. Stress the first syllable: SCU-sa. Pause briefly after it.

Example

Scusa, non ho capito.

Sorry, I didn't understand.

Words in this phrase

Scusa

[SKOO-zah]

sorry

Feeling regret or penitence.

Example

Devo dire scusa per il ritardo.

I must say sorry for the delay.

sono un po'

SOH-noh oon poh

I am a bit

'Sono' means 'I am' and 'un po'' means 'a little'. Say it as one flowing group, stressing 'po''.

Example

Sono un po' nervoso.

I'm a bit nervous.

Words in this phrase

sono

[SOH-noh]

I am

First person singular of essere, used to say who you are or where you are.

Example

Sono molto interessato alle opportunità di lavoro qui.

I am very interested in job opportunities here.

[oon]

Part of the fixed phrase 'un po'', meaning 'a bit'.

Example

Ho un po' di fame.

I'm a bit hungry.

po'

[poh]

bit, little

Short form of 'poco'; with 'un' it means 'a little'.

Example

Sono un po' stanco.

I'm a little tired.

in ritardo.

een ree-TAR-doh

late.

A fixed expression for 'late'. Tap the r's and stress TAR: in ri-TAR-do.

Example

Siamo in ritardo!

We're late!

Words in this phrase

[een]

in (late)

Used in the expression 'in ritardo', meaning 'late'.

Example

Il treno è in ritardo.

The train is late.

ritardo

[ree-TAR-doh]

delay, lateness

Masculine noun for being late; 'in ritardo' means late.

Example

Il treno è in ritardo.

The train is late.

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