Learn Hardcore Italian: La scala mobile si ferma un attimo, ma poi riparte lentamente. - The escalator stops for a moment, then starts again slowly.

In Italian there isn’t a single-word equivalent to English “escalator.” Instead, speakers use the descriptive noun-plus-adjective construction scala mobile, literally “moving stairs.” Scala is feminine (hence la), and mobile means “moving” or “mobile.”

Why does the sentence use si ferma instead of just ferma?

Here fermare is used as a pronominal (intransitive) verb, fermarsi, meaning “to stop oneself.” The si is a reflexive pronoun required by fermarsi. Without si, ferma would be the third-person singular of the transitive verb “to stop” (e.g. “he stops something”), which doesn’t convey “the escalator stops.”

What does un attimo mean, and can I use momento instead?

Un attimo means “a very short moment” or “just a sec.” It’s slightly more colloquial and emphatic than un momento, which is more neutral. Both are correct, but un attimo often stresses brevity (“just a tick”).

Why is there ma poi instead of simply ma or poi?

Ma alone means “but” (contrast); poi alone means “then” or “afterward” (sequence). Ma poi combines both ideas: “but then,” indicating a contrast followed by a subsequent action. It’s more natural when you want to stress “it stops briefly, but then it does something else.”

What does ripartire mean, and how is it different from partire?

Partire means “to depart” or “to start.” The prefix ri- adds “again,” so ripartire means “to start again” or “to resume moving.” In this sentence, it perfectly conveys “the escalator restarts.”

Why is lentamente placed at the end, and can I say piano instead?

Adverbs of manner (how something happens) in Italian typically follow the verb, especially in spoken language. Lentamente (“slowly”) at the end sounds natural. You could use piano (“slowly”) or the colloquial pian piano, but they’re slightly more informal. Lentamente has a neutral, clear tone.

Could I reorder the sentence or omit commas?

You could say La scala mobile si ferma un attimo ma poi riparte lentamente without the comma, and it’s still correct in everyday speech. However, the comma before ma poi helps signal the brief pause in meaning you’re describing. In writing, it clarifies the contrast + sequence.