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How to Say ‘A couple of months, if I behave myself.’ in Italian

Un paio di mesi, se faccio la brava.

oon PAH-yoh dee MEH-zee seh FAHT-choh lah BRAH-vah

[oon PAH-yoh dee MEH-zee seh FAHT-choh lah BRAH-vah]

🇮🇹 In Italy: fare il bravo/la brava is what you'd tell a child, so saying it about yourself is playful and self-mocking. It's a warm way to talk about following doctor's orders.

Phrase Breakdown

Un paio di mesi,

oon PAH-yoh dee MEH-zee

A couple of months,

This is an approximate amount of time. Pause briefly at the comma.

Example

Resto qui un paio di mesi.

I'm staying here a couple of months.

Words in this phrase

[oon]

Indefinite article used before a masculine singular noun.

Example

In Un buon equilibrio, Un introduce l'idea di un balance positivo.

In 'Un buon equilibrio,' 'Un' introduces the idea of a positive balance.

paio

[PAH-yoh]

pair / couple

Two of something; 'un paio di' means 'a couple of'.

Example

Un paio di scarpe.

A pair of shoes.

[dee]

Preposition linking nouns, often translated as of.

Example

Che tipo di ruolo è disponibile?

What kind of role is available?

mesi

[MEH-zee]

months

Plural of 'mese'.

Example

Sono passati tre mesi.

Three months have passed.

se faccio la brava.

seh FAHT-choh lah BRAH-vah

if I behave.

This is a conditional clause using the idiom 'fare la brava' (to be good).

Example

Esco prima se faccio la brava.

I'll get out sooner if I behave.

Words in this phrase

[seh]

A conjunction meaning 'if,' used to introduce a condition politely.

Example

Se vuoi, possiamo sentirci la prossima settimana.

If you want, we can talk next week.

faccio

[FAHT-choh]

I behave / I act

From 'fare'; 'fare la brava' means to behave well.

Example

Oggi faccio il bravo.

Today I'll behave.

[lah]

the

The feminine singular definite article, used before nouns like 'cultura.'

Example

"La" cultura di questa impresa mi interessa molto.

"The" culture of this company interests me a lot.

brava

[BRAH-vah]

good (girl)

Feminine of 'bravo'; in 'fare la brava', to be good.

Example

Sei stata brava!

You were good!

Guides for Italian learners

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