Leaving a message in Italian

1. 1
   messaggio/mesˈsaddʒo/

   messagenoun

   Words you send to someone.
2. 2
   lasciare/laʃˈʃare/

   to leaveverb

   To put or keep something somewhere and go away without taking it with you.
3. 3
   richiamare/rikjaˈmare/

   to call backverb

   To phone someone again.
4. 4
   numero/ˈnumero/iAlso said ˈnummero.

   numbernoun

   The sign that says how many things there are.
5. 5
   occupato/okkuˈpato/

   busyadjective

   Already having something else to do at that moment.
6. 6
   riferire/rifeˈrire/

   to tellverb

   To tell someone what another person said.
7. 7
   cellulare/tʃelluˈlare/

   mobile phonenoun

   A phone you always carry with you.
8. 8
   riunione/riuˈnjone/

   meetingnoun

   A gathering where several people come together to talk about work.
9. 9
   rientrare/rienˈtrare/

   to returnverb

   To go back to the place you left.
10. 10
    urgente/urˈdʒɛnte/

    urgentadjective

    Which can't wait and must be done right away.

The sentences

1. Può dargli questo messaggio appena esce dalla riunione?

   Could you give him this message as soon as he is out of the meeting?

2. Sì, grazie, vorrei lasciare un messaggio per lui.

   Yes, thank you, I would like to leave a message for him.

3. Può chiedergli di richiamare appena è libero?

   Could you ask him to call me back as soon as he is free?

4. Le lascio il mio numero di telefono.

   I'll leave you my phone number.

5. Capisco, se è occupato provo più tardi.

   I understand, if he is busy I'll try later.

6. Può riferire che ho chiamato per il contratto?

   Could you tell him I called about the contract?

7. Mi trova sul cellulare per tutto il pomeriggio.

   You can reach me on my mobile all afternoon.

8. Sa quando finisce la riunione, più o meno?

   Do you know when the meeting ends, roughly?

9. A che ora dovrebbe rientrare in ufficio?

   What time is he due back in the office?

10. Non è urgente, può aspettare fino a domani.

    It's not urgent, it can wait until tomorrow.

Pronunciation

• messaggio/mesˈsaddʒo/

  The gg is held long, as in «oggi».

• lasciare/laʃˈʃare/

  The sound of -scia- is long: la-sscia-re.

• occupato/okkuˈpato/

  The double c is heard: hold the sound before -cu-.

• cellulare/tʃelluˈlare/

  The l is double: hold it longer, as in «bello».

• riunione/riuˈnjone/

  The stress falls on -nio-, said as one breath and with a closed o: riu-NIO-ne.

• urgente/urˈdʒɛnte/

  The g before e is soft, and that e is open.

Good to know

Lei

On the phone with a company or a client you don't know, people usually use Lei, the formal you. Switch to tu when the other person does.

pronto

Whoever answers the phone often says «pronto», and in an office often the company name. If you are the caller, you usually say who you are right away.

cellulare

In Italy the mobile phone is widely used for work too. Leaving your mobile number so people can call you back is normal.

Questions

How do I ask someone to call me back in Italian?

You can say «Può chiedergli di richiamare appena è libero?», which means asking him to call back as soon as he is free. Richiamare means to phone someone again.

How do I say I would like to leave a message in Italian?

Say «Sì, grazie, vorrei lasciare un messaggio per lui.» Lasciare means to leave something somewhere and go away.

What do I say if the message is not urgent?

You can say «Non è urgente, può aspettare fino a domani.» Urgente describes something that cannot wait and must be done right away.