Italian Expression · Beginner
essere in ritardo
to be late
Pronunciation: ES-se-re in ri-TAR-do
Meaning
To arrive or do something after the expected or scheduled time.
Example
Mi dispiace, sono in ritardo a causa del traffico.
I'm sorry, I'm late because of the traffic.
Common mistakes & tips
- Practice essere in ritardo 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 beginner-level Italian expression.