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How to Say ‘We've been friends since university.’ in Italian

Siamo amici dall'università.

SYAH-moh ah-MEE-chee dahl oo-nee-vehr-see-TAH

[SYAH-moh ah-MEE-chee dahl oo-nee-vehr-see-TAH]

💬 Usage Tip: Italian uses the present tense here: literally "we are friends since university". Don't try to translate "have been".

Phrase Breakdown

Siamo amici

SYAH-moh ah-MEE-chee

We are friends

In 'amici', the C before I sounds like CH: a-MEE-chee.

Example

Siamo amici da tanto.

We've been friends for a long time.

Words in this phrase

Siamo

[SYAH-moh]

We are

Used to express the collective status or condition.

Example

Siamo pronti a partire.

We are ready to leave.

amici

[ah-MEE-chee]

friends

Plural of amico, friend.

Example

Esco con gli amici.

I'm going out with friends.

dall'università.

dahl oo-nee-vehr-see-TAH

since university.

'Da' + 'l'' means since or from. The final 'à' carries the stress: u-ni-ver-si-TÀ.

Example

Lo conosco dall'università.

I've known him since university.

Words in this phrase

dall'

[dahl]

since the / from the

'da' + 'l'' before a vowel; here means 'since the time of'.

Example

Lavoro qui dall'estate.

I've worked here since the summer.

università

[oo-nee-vehr-see-TAH]

university

Feminine noun; the final accent never changes.

Example

Studio all'università di Bologna.

I study at the University of Bologna.

Guides for Italian learners

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