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In un giorno normale, il viaggio è breve.

In un giorno normale, il viaggio è breve.
On a normal day, the trip is short.
From Lesson 142:Taking time (volerci, metterci)·Italian

Questions & Answers about In un giorno normale, il viaggio è breve.

Both normale and breve end in -e. Does this mean they are feminine?
Not necessarily! Adjectives that end in -e in the singular (like normale and breve) are used for both masculine and feminine nouns. Here, they are describing un giorno and il viaggio, which are both masculine. In the plural, these adjectives always change to end in -i, regardless of gender (for example, giorni normali or viaggi brevi).
Why do we use in for "on a normal day" instead of a literal translation for "on"?
In English, we say "on a day," but Italian uses in for this kind of broad time expression. You should never use su (on) for days or dates. Note that if you are just naming a specific day of the week, like "on Monday," Italian drops the preposition entirely and just uses the article (il lunedì).
How could I say "the trip takes a short time" using volerci from this lesson?
Since volerci is impersonal and focuses on the time required, you would say Ci vuole poco tempo per il viaggio (It takes little time for the trip). Because "little time" (poco tempo) is a singular subject in Italian, we use the singular verb form ci vuole.
Does viaggio only mean a big vacation or can it be a quick commute?
Viaggio translates to "trip," "journey," or "travel." While it can definitely mean a long vacation, it is also perfectly normal to use it for a daily commute or a simple drive from point A to point B.

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