Learn Italian: Lavoro alla cassa. - I work at the checkout.

alla is a combined word (an articulated preposition) made by joining the preposition a (at or to) with the feminine singular article la (the). Because cassa is a feminine noun, we use la, which blends with a to become alla.

Why do we use a (in the form of alla) here instead of in?

The preposition a is often used in Italian to mean 'at' a specific station, desk, or point in a building. Working 'at the checkout' naturally takes a, which becomes alla when combined with la cassa.

Where is the word for 'I' in Lavoro alla cassa?

Italian usually drops subject pronouns like io (I) because the verb ending already shows who is doing the action. The -o ending on lavoro tells us it means 'I work', making the word io unnecessary.

What exactly does cassa mean?

While it translates to 'checkout' here, cassa originally means 'box' or 'case'. In daily Italian, it is the standard word for a cash register, the checkout lane in a supermarket, or the ticket office at a museum or cinema.