aspetta un attimo
The English phrase 'wait a minute' is translated into Italian as aspetta un attimo.
In Italian, asking someone to wait is commonly done using the word attimo (a moment) rather than minuto (a minute), even when the English equivalent uses the word 'minute'. You can also use un secondo to mean 'one second' or 'wait a second', as in aspetta un secondo.
Meaning: Translations (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase aspetta un attimo literally translates to 'wait a moment'.
Which one should you use?
While you can use un minuto to mean 'a minute', Italians more commonly use un attimo (a moment) to express the sentiment of asking for a brief pause. For a very common informal alternative, you can say aspetta un secondo, which means 'wait a second'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the verb changes depending on who you are addressing. Use aspetta un attimo for an informal singular subject, aspetti un attimo for a polite or formal singular subject and aspettate un attimo if you are addressing a group of people.
Did you know?
- The word attimo originates from the Greek word for an 'atom', implying a duration so small it cannot be divided.
- The concept of un attimo is often accompanied by a hand gesture where the fingers are pinched together, emphasizing the smallness of the time requested.
- When an Italian says un attimo, they may actually be asking you to wait for several minutes, as it is often used as a social lubricant rather than a literal time measurement.
Examples in context
- Aspetta un attimo, devo trovare le chiavi.Wait a minute, I have to find my keys.
- Aspetta un attimo prima di uscire.Wait a minute before going out.
- Aspetta un attimo, non sono sicuro di questo.Wait a minute, I am not sure about this.
Example conversation
Martina and Alessandro are getting ready to leave the house.
- MartinaAlessandro, aspetta un attimo!Alessandro, wait a minute!
- AlessandroChe cosa succede, Martina?What is happening, Martina?
- MartinaHo dimenticato il telefono in camera.I forgot my phone in the room.
- AlessandroVa bene, prendilo subito.Alright, grab it quickly.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries attimo, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
