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How to Say ‘Yes, we'll hold it for you for fifteen minutes.’ in Italian

Sì, glielo teniamo per un quarto d'ora.

see LYEH-loh teh-NYAH-moh pehr oon KWAR-toh dah OH-rah

[see LYEH-loh teh-NYAH-moh pehr oon KWAR-toh dah OH-rah]

Phrase Breakdown

Sì, glielo teniamo

see LYEH-loh teh-NYAH-moh

Yes, we'll hold it for you

'Glielo' combines 'gli' (to you, formal) and 'lo' (it). Say the 'gli' like the 'lli' in 'million': GLYEH-loh. 'Teniamo' is teh-NYAH-moh.

Example

Sì, glielo teniamo fino alle nove.

Yes, we'll hold it for you until nine.

Words in this phrase

Sì

[see]

yes

A simple affirmative answer, useful in conversation and interviews.

Example

Rispondo "Sì" quando mi chiedono se mi interessa la cultura aziendale.

I answer "Yes" when they ask me if I am interested in the company culture.

glielo

[LYEH-loh]

it for you

Combined pronoun: 'gli/le' + 'lo'; here formal 'it for you'.

Example

Glielo preparo subito.

I'll prepare it for you right away.

teniamo

[teh-NYAH-moh]

we keep / hold

Noi form of 'tenere'.

Example

Teniamo la porta aperta.

We keep the door open.

per un quarto d'ora.

pehr oon KWAR-toh dah OH-rah

for a quarter of an hour

'Quarto d'ora' means fifteen minutes. Join 'per un' smoothly, and link 'd'ora' as one sound: DOH-rah.

Example

Aspetto per un quarto d'ora.

I'll wait for a quarter of an hour.

Words in this phrase

per

[pehr]

for

A preposition used to explain purpose or reason.

Example

Sono qui per conoscere nuove aziende.

I am here to get to know new companies.

[oon]

a / an

An indefinite article meaning 'a' before a masculine singular noun.

Example

È stato un incontro molto utile.

It was a very useful meeting.

quarto

[KWAR-toh]

quarter

A quarter of an hour, fifteen minutes.

Example

Arrivo tra un quarto d'ora.

I'll arrive in a quarter of an hour.

[dah]

Indicates possession or origin.

Example

Una bottiglia d'acqua, per favore.

A bottle of water, please.

ora

[OH-rah]

Hour

Unit of time. Used to ask for or indicate time.

Example

A che ora ci vediamo?

At what hour do we meet?

Guides for Italian learners

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