Questions & Answers about Oggi hai fortuna, il negozio non è chiuso.
Why does the sentence use hai fortuna instead of saying 'you are lucky'?
This is a classic example of how Italians use the verbavere (to have) for states and feelings. Instead of saying 'you are lucky' (using the verb to be), Italians literally say 'you have luck' (hai fortuna). You will see this same pattern with hunger (avere fame) and age.
How do you pronounce chiuso?
It is pronounced 'KYOO-zoh'. In Italian, the combination ch always makes a hard 'k' sound. If the 'h' were not there, ci would sound like the 'chee' in the English word 'cheese'.
If I am a woman, do I need to change chiuso to chiusa?
No! The adjectivechiuso (closed) describes il negozio (the shop), not you. Because negozio is a masculine noun, the adjective describing it must also be masculine and end in -o, no matter who is speaking or being spoken to.
Why does non come before the verb è?
In Italian, the negative word non always goes immediately before the verb it negates. While in English we say 'is not', Italians literally say 'not is' (non è).