Learn Italian: Lei sa sciare, signore? - Do you know how to ski, sir?

Lei sa sciare, signore?

Do you know how to ski, sir?

Breakdown of Lei sa sciare, signore?

Questions & Answers about Lei sa sciare, signore?

Why is Lei capitalized, and doesn't it usually mean "she"?

In Italian, Lei with a capital L is the formal way to say "you" when speaking respectfully to someone you do not know well. Even though the lowercase word lei means "she", the formal Lei is used for both men and women. That is why it is used here to address a signore (sir).

Why do we use sa here for "do you know"?

Sa is the formal "you" form (matching Lei) of the irregular verb sapere (to know). In Italian, you do not need helper words like "do" to make a question. You just use the verb itself and raise your voice at the end, so Lei sa means both "You know" and "Do you know?".

Where is the translation for "how to" in this sentence?

It is built right into the verb! When you use a form of sapere followed directly by an infinitive verb (a verb in its dictionary form, like sciare, meaning "to ski"), it automatically translates to "knowing how to" do that action. You never need extra words for "how to" in Italian.

Why does the sentence use signore instead of signor?

You use the full word signore when speaking directly to a man without saying his last name, exactly like saying "sir" in English. You only drop the "e" to make it signor when it is followed by his name, such as signor Rossi (Mr. Rossi).