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How to Say ‘I tried to raise it, but nothing.’ in Italian

Ho provato ad alzarla, ma niente.

oh proh-VAH-toh ahd ahl-TSAR-lah mah NYEHN-teh

[oh proh-VAH-toh ahd ahl-TSAR-lah mah NYEHN-teh]

Phrase Breakdown

Ho provato

oh proh-VAH-toh

I tried

Don't pronounce the 'h'. Stress pro-VA-to.

Example

Ho provato a chiamare.

I tried calling.

Words in this phrase

[oh]

I have

First person singular of avere, used with a past participle to form the present perfect.

Example

Ho parlato con tre aziende oggi.

I have spoken with three companies today.

provato

[proh-VAH-toh]

tried

Past participle of 'provare', to try.

Example

Abbiamo provato tutto.

We tried everything.

ad alzarla,

ahd ahl-TSAR-lah

to raise it,

Link 'ad' and 'alzarla' together: 'adal-ZAR-la'. Pause at the comma.

Example

La radio? Prova ad alzarla.

The radio? Try turning it up.

Words in this phrase

[ahd]

Form of 'a' used before a vowel.

Example

Vado ad aprire.

I'll go to open it.

alzarla

[ahl-TSAR-lah]

to raise it

'Alzare' (to raise) plus 'la' (it, feminine).

Example

La musica è bassa, puoi alzarla?

The music is low, can you turn it up?

ma niente.

mah NYEHN-teh

but nothing happened.

A common colloquial phrase meaning 'but no luck' or 'nothing doing'. Say NYEN-te.

Example

Ho chiamato, ma niente.

I called, but nothing.

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.

niente

[NYEHN-teh]

nothing

Used to indicate the absence of anything.

Example

Non c'è niente qui.

There is nothing here.

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