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How to Say ‘I get by’ in Italian

Me la cavo

meh lah KAH-voh

[meh lah KAH-voh]

💬 Usage Tip: The la here doesn't point to anything. It's simply part of the fixed expression cavarsela, so learn me la cavo as one unit. For you: te la cavi.

Phrase Breakdown

[meh]

myself

Reflexive pronoun 'mi', changed to 'me' before another pronoun; part of 'cavarsela'.

Example

Me la cavo bene in cucina.

I get by well in the kitchen.

[lah]

Direct object pronoun referring to the reservation.

Example

La vedo confermata per stasera.

I see it confirmed for tonight.

cavo

[KAH-voh]

I manage / I get by

From 'cavarsela', an idiom meaning to manage or cope.

Example

Con l'inglese me la cavo.

I get by in English.

Guides for Italian learners

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