Learn Italian: Giro a sinistra al semaforo. - I turn left at the traffic light.

Giro a sinistra al semaforo.

I turn left at the traffic light.

Breakdown of Giro a sinistra al semaforo.

Questions & Answers about Giro a sinistra al semaforo.

I've seen the phrase fare un giro before. Is giro a noun or a verb in this sentence?

In this sentence, giro is a verb. It is the "I" form (first-person singular) of the regular -are verb girare (to turn). In the phrase fare un giro (to take a walk or go for a spin), giro is a noun.

Why do we use the preposition a in a sinistra?

In Italian, indicating left or right is a fixed expression that always takes the preposition a. You will always say a sinistra (to the left) and a destra (to the right).

Why does the sentence use al semaforo instead of just a semaforo?

al is a combined word made from the preposition a (at/to) and the masculine singular "the", which is il. Because you are talking about a specific traffic light, you must include "the". In Italian, a + il always combines into al.

Where does the stress go when pronouncing semaforo?

The stress falls on the second syllable: se-MA-fo-ro (semàforo). This can be a bit surprising for English learners, who often try to stress the third syllable.