L'anno è lungo.

to be

Breakdown of L'anno è lungo.

• lungo: long
• l'anno: the year

Questions & Answers about L'anno è lungo.

Why does 'anno' have an apostrophe in 'L'anno'?

The apostrophe indicates that the definite article lo has been shortened to l' because anno starts with a vowel (a). This contraction helps maintain the flow of pronunciation in Italian.

Why is the adjective 'lungo' in the masculine form rather than 'lunga'?

The word anno is masculine, so the adjective must agree in gender. Hence, it’s lungo (masculine) instead of lunga (feminine).

What’s the difference between 'il' and 'l’'?

Both are definite articles meaning the, but l’ is used with words beginning with a vowel (like anno) or a silent h. Il is used before most consonants (e.g., il gatto).

How should I pronounce 'L'anno è lungo'?

Try to link the sounds smoothly:
• L’ and anno flow together as LAN-no (with the n doubled).
• è is a short, open vowel sound: eh.
• lungo has a clear u and o with a slightly softer g than in English.

Are there any other expressions with 'lungo' I might hear?

Yes! You might come across phrases like il giorno è lungo (the day is long) or è una lunga storia (it’s a long story). These use the same adjective but adjusted for gender or number where needed.