Learn Hardcore Italian: Devo sbrigarmi a preparare il pranzo, tra poco arrivano gli ospiti. - I have to hurry to prepare lunch; the guests are arriving soon.

Devo sbrigarmi a preparare il pranzo, tra poco arrivano gli ospiti.

I have to hurry to prepare lunch; the guests are arriving soon.

Breakdown of Devo sbrigarmi a preparare il pranzo, tra poco arrivano gli ospiti.

Questions & Answers about Devo sbrigarmi a preparare il pranzo, tra poco arrivano gli ospiti.

What does sbrigarmi mean in this sentence?

Sbrigarmi is the reflexive form of the verb sbrigare, which means to hurry up. In this sentence, it emphasizes that the speaker needs to hurry themselves, specifically because they must prepare lunch quickly.

Why is the reflexive pronoun used with sbrigarmi?

Italian often uses reflexive pronouns for actions that a subject performs on themselves. In sbrigarmi, the reflexive pronoun mi shows that the action of hurrying is directed at the speaker, similar to saying "I must hurry myself" in English.

What role does the preposition a play in a preparare il pranzo?

In Italian, the preposition a is used before an infinitive after certain verbs to indicate purpose or the action that follows. Here, sbrigarmi a preparare il pranzo translates to "to hurry to prepare lunch," with a linking the act of hurrying to the specific task of preparing lunch.

What does the phrase tra poco translate to in English?

The phrase tra poco means "soon" or "in a short while." It indicates that the action mentioned next—the arrival of the guests—will happen very shortly.