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Lui sbircia sempre il lavoro altrui, in altre parole copia.

Lui sbircia sempre il lavoro altrui, in altre parole copia.
He always peeks at other people's work, in other words, he copies.
From Lesson 352:Indefinite possessive adjective (altrui)·Italian

Questions & Answers about Lui sbircia sempre il lavoro altrui, in altre parole copia.

Why is altrui placed after lavoro, and does it change form if the noun is plural?
Altrui means other people's or belonging to others. It is an invariable adjective, meaning it never changes its ending to match the noun's gender or number. It strictly follows the noun it modifies, unlike most possessive adjectives. For example, if the noun were plural, it would still be i lavori altrui.
Could I say il lavoro degli altri instead of il lavoro altrui?
Yes, il lavoro degli altri means exactly the same thing and is very common in everyday speech. Using altrui is slightly more formal, but it is frequently used in written Italian and fixed expressions.
What exactly does sbircia mean here compared to simply looking?
Sbircia comes from the verb sbirciare, which specifically means to peek, glance furtively, or look out of the corner of your eye. It implies doing it secretly, which fits perfectly with the context of copying someone else.
Is in altre parole a fixed expression in Italian?
Yes, it translates directly word-for-word to in other words. Just like in English, it is a common set phrase used to clarify or bluntly rephrase something you just said.

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