La tomaia è scollata, però la cucitura tiene.

to be

Breakdown of La tomaia è scollata, però la cucitura tiene.

• tenere: to hold
• però: but
• la tomaia: the upper (of a shoe)

Questions & Answers about La tomaia è scollata, però la cucitura tiene.

What does tomaia mean?

Tomaia is a shoe-related word. It means the upper of a shoe: the part that covers the top and sides of the foot, above the sole.

So this sentence is talking about a shoe or similar footwear.

Why is it la tomaia and not just tomaia?

Italian often uses the definite article where English may or may not use the.

Here, la tomaia means the upper. It refers to a specific upper, probably the one on the shoe being discussed.

Also, tomaia is a feminine singular noun, so it takes la.

Why is it è scollata?

È scollata means is unglued / has come unglued / is detached because the glue has failed.

A few useful points:

• è = is
• scollata is the feminine singular form of scollato, a past participle/adjective
• it agrees with la tomaia, which is feminine singular

So:

• masculine singular: scollato
• feminine singular: scollata
• masculine plural: scollati
• feminine plural: scollate

In context, scollata describes the condition of the shoe upper.

Does scollata come from scollare?