La macchinetta automatica è fuori servizio.

The vending machine is out of service.

Breakdown of La macchinetta automatica è fuori servizio.

• essere: to be
• la macchinetta automatica: the vending machine
• fuori servizio: out of service

Questions & Answers about La macchinetta automatica è fuori servizio.

Why is la used instead of una before macchinetta automatica?

In Italian signage and announcements, the definite article la is common when pointing to a specific, known machine (for example, the only vending machine in that area). Using una macchinetta (“a vending machine”) is grammatically correct but sounds like you’re introducing it as one among many, rather than the familiar one you want to talk about.

What does macchinetta mean and why is it feminine?

Macchinetta is the diminutive of macchina (“machine”), so it literally means “little machine.” Diminutive suffixes like -etta always produce feminine nouns, which is why we use la macchinetta.

Why is the adjective automatica in the feminine form?

Adjectives in Italian must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Since macchinetta is feminine singular, automatica takes the feminine singular ending -a. If the noun were masculine (e.g., distributore), you’d say automatico.

Is macchinetta automatica the same as distributore automatico?

Yes, both refer to a vending machine. Macchinetta is more colloquial—“little machine”—while distributore (“distributor”) sounds slightly more formal or technical. You’ll see both on signs in Italy.