Italian Expression · Intermediate
dare retta
to listen to / to pay attention (to)
Pronunciation: DA-re RET-ta
Meaning
To pay attention to someone's advice or words, often implying following it.
Example
Se mi avessi dato retta, non sarebbe successo.
If you had listened to me, it wouldn't have happened.
Common mistakes & tips
- Practice dare retta out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this is a intermediate-level Italian expression.