tutto a posto?
/ˈtut.to a ˈpos.to/word by word
The Italian phrase for "are you okay?" is tutto a posto?
tutto a posto? is used as a general check to see if everything is fine or if there are any problems. While it literally asks if things are in order, it is the standard idiomatic way to ask "is everything okay?" or "is everything fine?"
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tutto a posto literally translates to "everything in place".
Which one should you use?
tutto a posto? serves as a general check on a situation or a person's status. In contrast, if you want to ask specifically about someone's physical or emotional well-being, you should use Stai bene? Other variations include Tutto bene? (Is everything okay?), Va tutto bene? (Is everything going well?) and Ti senti bene? (Do you feel well?).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈtut.to a ˈpos.to/. The stress is on the 1st of 4 syllables.
Did you know?
- Depending on the tone, tutto a posto can be used sarcastically to describe a chaotic situation. In this context, saying 'everything is in place' actually means that everything has gone wrong.
- While tutto a posto? asks if everything is 'in place', the word posto also means 'seat' or 'spot'. This allows Italians to use the same root word to ask for a table at a restaurant or a parking space.
- The word posto in this phrase comes from the Latin positus, which means 'placed' or 'set'. This is the same ancestor that gave English the word 'position'.
Examples in context
- Sta bene dopo l'incidente?Are you okay after the accident?
- Stai bene dopo la caduta?Are you okay after the fall?
- Tutto a posto?Are you okay?
Example conversation
Matteo sees Sofia looking a bit stressed while working.
- MatteoSofia, tutto a posto?Sofia, are you okay?
- SofiaSì, grazie Matteo, sono solo un po' stanca.Yes, thanks Matteo, I am just a bit tired.
- MatteoVuoi un caffè?Do you want a coffee?
- SofiaSì, sarebbe perfetto.Yes, that would be perfect.
