Se l’applicazione si blocca, devo riavviare il computer.

If the application freezes, I have to restart the computer.

Breakdown of Se l’applicazione si blocca, devo riavviare il computer.

• io: I
• se: if
• dovere: to have to
• il computer: the computer

Questions & Answers about Se l’applicazione si blocca, devo riavviare il computer.

Why is it l’applicazione and not la applicazione?

Italian often drops the final vowel of an article before a word that begins with a vowel.
So la applicazione becomes l’applicazione.

This is called elision.

You will see the same thing in examples like:

• l’amica
• l’idea
• l’ora

Because applicazione is feminine singular, the full article is la, and before a vowel it becomes l’.

Why does the sentence use se?

Se means if in Italian.

In this sentence, Se l’applicazione si blocca introduces the condition: if the application freezes/crashes.

It works much like English if:

• Se piove, resto a casa. = If it rains, I stay home.
• Se ho tempo, ti chiamo. = If I have time, I’ll call you.

What does si blocca mean exactly, and why is there si?