🙋‍♂️💺❓🆓

How to Say ‘Excuse me, is this seat free?’ in Italian

Scusi, è libero questo posto?

SKOO-zee eh LEE-beh-roh KWEH-stoh POH-stoh

[SKOO-zee eh LEE-beh-roh KWEH-stoh POH-stoh]

💬 Usage Tip: Italian often puts the subject at the end of a question: è libero questo posto? is literally "is free this seat?" Same shape: è occupata questa sedia? "is this chair taken?"

Phrase Breakdown

Scusi,

SKOO-zee

Excuse me,

This is the formal 'excuse me', used with strangers and older people. Say SKOO-zee.

Example

Scusi, dov'è la stazione?

Excuse me, where is the station?

Words in this phrase

Scusi

[SKOO-zee]

excuse me (formal)

Polite form used to get attention or apologize to a stranger.

Example

Scusi, dov'è la stazione?

Excuse me, where is the station?

è libero

eh LEE-beh-roh

is free

Stress the first syllable of 'libero': LEE-beh-ro.

Example

È libero domani?

Are you free tomorrow? (formal)

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.

libero

[LEE-beh-roh]

free, available

Adjective: not taken or occupied.

Example

Questo posto è libero?

Is this seat free?

questo posto?

KWEH-stoh POH-stoh

this seat?

Say KWEH-sto POH-sto with rising intonation.

Example

Questo posto è occupato.

This seat is taken.

Words in this phrase

questo

[KWEH-stoh]

this

Demonstrative adjective used to point to something near or specific.

Example

Questo ambiente sembra aperto e rispettoso.

This environment seems open and respectful.

posto

[POH-stoh]

room, space, seat

Available space or seating somewhere.

Example

C'è posto per due?

Is there room for two?

Guides for Italian learners

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