In this workshop you practise interrupting an Italian conversation politely. You will use short, safe formulas to get the floor, give a clear reason, and respond when someone interrupts you. The native examples come from the recordings, and each one is explained in English before you try it. The recordings are available to listen to and repeat, but there is no automatic assessment, so check your own answers with the self-checks provided. The tasks move from a guided exchange, to understanding a reply, and finally to recall with the correct roles.
Getting the floor politely
Practice interrupting a colleague you already address informally. «Scusa se ti interrompo, ma è urgente.» means sorry to cut in, but it is urgent. «Mi dispiace interrompere, ma devo dirti una cosa subito.» means sorry to interrupt, but I have to tell you something right away. Both address one person informally. «Posso aggiungere una cosa?» means can I add something. «Permetti? Devo dire una cosa importante.» asks may I and says the matter is important. Use the recorded lines as complete models.
Understanding the reply and giving your reason
When you interrupt, the other person may invite you to continue. In the recorded exchange, speaker A says «Allora, come dicevo, il progetto va consegnato venerdì.», which means as I was saying, the project has to be handed in on Friday. Speaker B then interrupts with «Scusa se ti interrompo, ma c'è un problema con la data.», which means sorry to cut in, but there is a problem with the date. Speaker A replies «Dimmi pure.», which means go ahead. Speaker B then gives the reason: «Il cliente ha chiesto di consegnare lunedì, non venerdì.», which means the client asked us to hand it in on Monday, not Friday. This shows the full pattern: polite opening, permission to speak, then a clear reason. Your reason should be short and specific, and it should connect to what the other person was saying.
Choosing the right level of politeness
The recorded deadline exchange is between colleagues who use informal address. A softer opening still uses informal address when it contains the informal word for you. Do not assume that apologetic wording makes every line suitable for a formal stranger interaction. Practise this exact scene first: A mentions Friday, B flags a date problem, A invites B to continue, and B explains that the client requested Monday. Keep each line with its recorded speaker.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Scusa se ti interrompo, ma è urgente.
Sorry to cut in, but it's urgent.
SKOO-zah seh tee een-tehr-ROHM-poh, mah eh oor-JEHN-teh
Mi dispiace interrompere, ma devo dirti una cosa subito.
I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have to tell you something right away.
mee dee-SPYAH-cheh een-tehr-ROHM-peh-reh, mah DEH-voh DEER-tee OO-nah KOH-zah SOO-bee-toh
Posso aggiungere una cosa?
Can I add something?
POHS-soh ad-DOON-jeh-reh OO-nah KOH-zah
Permetti? Devo dire una cosa importante.
May I? I need to say something important.
pehr-MEHT-tee? DEH-voh DEE-reh OO-nah KOH-zah eem-por-TAHN-teh
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Allora, come dicevo, il progetto va consegnato venerdì.
So, as I was saying, the project has to be handed in on Friday.Scusa se ti interrompo, ma c'è un problema con la data.
Sorry to cut in, but there's a problem with the date.Dimmi pure.
Go ahead.Il cliente ha chiesto di consegnare lunedì, non venerdì.
The client asked us to hand it in on Monday, not Friday.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: interrupt and give a reason
You are in a small meeting. A colleague is speaking about a deadline. You need to add something urgent. Use the recordings as your model. The recordings are available to listen to and repeat, but there is no automatic assessment, so use the self-check below.
Your task: Play colleague B. After hearing «Allora, come dicevo, il progetto va consegnato venerdì.», interrupt with «Scusa se ti interrompo, ma c'è un problema con la data.». Listen to A say «Dimmi pure.», then give the exact reason: «Il cliente ha chiesto di consegnare lunedì, non venerdì.». Repeat these four turns.
Reply comprehension: choose the correct response
You will hear or read a short interruption. Your job is to choose the best reply from the options. This checks whether you understand the polite opening and the reason.
Your task: Read this situation. Speaker B says «Scusa se ti interrompo, ma c'è un problema con la data.», which means sorry to cut in, but there is a problem with the date. Which reply fits best? Option A: «Dimmi pure.», which means go ahead. Option B: «Scusa se ti interrompo, ma è urgente.», which means sorry to cut in, but it is urgent. Option C: «Posso aggiungere una cosa?», which means can I add something? Choose one option and say why.
Recall with correct roles: who says what?
This task checks whether you remember who says which line in the recorded exchange. You will match each line to the correct role: the person who was speaking first, or the person who interrupts.
Your task: Look at these four lines: «Allora, come dicevo, il progetto va consegnato venerdì.», «Scusa se ti interrompo, ma c'è un problema con la data.», «Dimmi pure.» and «Il cliente ha chiesto di consegnare lunedì, non venerdì.». Decide who says each one. Is it the person who was speaking first, or the person who interrupts? Say your answers aloud. Then check with the self-check below.
Common questions
Do these recordings use formal or informal address?
The deadline scene uses informal address between colleagues. The softer apology also addresses one person informally. Practise these exact lines in that relationship; this workshop does not teach converting them to formal address.
Can I use these phrases in a work meeting?
Yes, in the recorded scene the colleagues use informal address. «Posso aggiungere una cosa?» asks permission to contribute. Practise the complete deadline correction, listen for «Dimmi pure.», and give the recorded Monday-versus-Friday reason.
Sources and further reading
- italian: interrupt politelyChecked September 2026
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