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How to Say ‘But the salary is a bit low.’ in Italian

Ma lo stipendio è un po' basso.

mah loh stee-PEN-dyoh eh oon poh BAHS-soh

[mah loh stee-PEN-dyoh eh oon poh BAHS-soh]

🇮🇹 In Italy: Calling the salary un po' basso rather than simply basso is the polite, standard way to push back. Italian negotiation favours softened wording over blunt demands.

Phrase Breakdown

Ma lo stipendio

mah loh stee-PEN-dyoh

But the salary

'Lo' is used before 's' + consonant. Pronounce it sti-PEN-dio.

Example

Lo stipendio arriva a fine mese.

The salary arrives at the end of the month.

Words in this phrase

[mah]

But

Used to introduce a contrasting statement or question.

Example

Ma non capisco perché ma allora lei è felice.

But I don't understand why but then she is happy.

[loh]

The

Demonstrative pronoun indicating a known quantity.

Example

Lo so bene.

I know it well.

stipendio

[stee-PEN-dyoh]

salary

Masculine noun for regular pay from a job.

Example

Il mio stipendio arriva a fine mese.

My salary arrives at the end of the month.

è un po' basso.

eh oon poh BAHS-soh

is a bit low

A polite way to complain. Double 's' in BAS-so.

Example

Il volume è un po' basso.

The volume is a bit low.

Words in this phrase

[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.

[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.

po'

[poh]

bit, little

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

Example

Sono un po' stanco.

I'm a little tired.

basso

[BAHS-soh]

low

Adjective meaning low; also 'short' for people.

Example

Il prezzo è basso.

The price is low.

Guides for Italian learners

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