Beach & Activities

1. Dov'è la spiaggia più vicina?

   Where is the nearest beach?

   Usage

   Find the nearest beach, useful on the Amalfi Coast or in Sicily

   Grammar Note

   "Spiaggia" is feminine, so "vicina." "Più + adjective" forms comparative/superlative

2. Può mettermi la crema solare sulla schiena?

   Could you put sunscreen on my back?

   Usage

   Ask a companion to apply sunscreen to your back

   Grammar Note

   "Crema solare" = sun cream. "Sulla" = su + la (on + feminine article)

3. È possibile noleggiare un ombrellone?

   Is it possible to rent a beach umbrella?

   Usage

   Ask whether beach umbrellas can be rented

   Grammar Note

   "Ombrellone" uses the augmentative suffix -one on "ombrello" (umbrella): large umbrella

4. L'acqua è bellissima oggi

   The water is beautiful today

   Usage

   Comment on the beautiful water at the beach

   Grammar Note

   "Acqua" is feminine, so "bellissima." "L'" elides "la" before a vowel

5. Ci sono meduse in acqua?

   Are there jellyfish in the water?

   Usage

   A practical safety check before swimming in the sea

   Grammar Note

   "Ci sono" expresses plural existence. For singular, use "c'è" (there is)

6. È permesso fare il bagno qui?

   Is swimming allowed here?

   Usage

   Check whether swimming is permitted at a beach or cove

   Grammar Note

   "Fare il bagno" (to take a bath/swim) is an Italian idiom. "Bagno" = bath, but contextually means swimming

7. Dove posso noleggiare l'attrezzatura da snorkeling?

   Where can I rent snorkelling equipment?

   Usage

   Find out where to rent snorkelling gear at an Italian beach

   Grammar Note

   "Attrezzatura" (equipment) is feminine. "L'" elides "la" before a vowel

8. Attenzione alle correnti!

   Watch out for the currents!

   Usage

   Warn others about dangerous sea currents

   Grammar Note

   "Attenzione a" is a warning phrase: "be careful of." "Alle" = a + le (to + feminine plural article)

9. Dove sono i bagni?

   Where are the toilets?

   Usage

   Ask where the toilets are at or near the beach

   Grammar Note

   "Bagni" is the plural of bagno. Note: some Italian beach toilets (bagni) require a small fee

10. Che tramonto spettacolare!

    What a spectacular sunset!

    Usage

    Express awe at a beautiful sunset over the Mediterranean

    Grammar Note

    "Tramonto" (sunset) literally means "going beyond the mountain." Masculine noun

Browse all TravelPhrases languages