Bedeutung
Stopping work for a rest.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'pausa caffè' is a social institution. It usually happens around 10:30 AM and 4:00 PM. It is considered rude to refuse a coffee break if the whole team is going. The 'riposo' or 'pennichella' (afternoon nap) is a longer 'momento di pausa' that occurs after lunch, where shops often close from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Students often use 'pausa sigaretta' (cigarette break) as a synonym for a 'momento di pausa', even if they don't smoke much, just to step outside the library. In modern Milanese offices, the 'momento di pausa' is often replaced by the English word 'break', but the cultural habit of the social coffee remains the same.
Use 'Prendersi'
If you want to sound more like a native, say 'Mi prendo un momento di pausa'. It sounds more intentional.
Don't forget the 'DI'
Saying 'momento pausa' is a common English-speaker mistake. Always use 'di'.
Bedeutung
Stopping work for a rest.
Use 'Prendersi'
If you want to sound more like a native, say 'Mi prendo un momento di pausa'. It sounds more intentional.
Don't forget the 'DI'
Saying 'momento pausa' is a common English-speaker mistake. Always use 'di'.
The Coffee Rule
In Italy, a 'momento di pausa' almost always involves a coffee. Even if you don't drink it, just go for the company!
Plural Use
You can say 'abbiamo dei momenti di pausa' if there are several breaks throughout the day.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'avere'.
Dopo tre ore di studio, io e Maria finalmente _______ un momento di pausa.
The subject is 'io e Maria' (we), so the verb must be 'abbiamo'.
Which sentence is the most natural for an office setting?
You want to tell your boss you are taking a 5-minute break.
'Vado in vacanza' is for long trips, and 'mi rompo' means 'I break myself'.
Match the Italian phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are standard translations for work-related rest.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Sei stanco? B: Sì, ________ un momento di pausa?
'Possiamo avere' (Can we have) is a polite way to suggest a break.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Types of Pausa
Work
- • Pausa caffè
- • Pausa pranzo
- • Staccare la spina
School
- • Intervallo
- • Ricreazione
- • Pausa studio
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenDopo tre ore di studio, io e Maria finalmente _______ un momento di pausa.
The subject is 'io e Maria' (we), so the verb must be 'abbiamo'.
You want to tell your boss you are taking a 5-minute break.
'Vado in vacanza' is for long trips, and 'mi rompo' means 'I break myself'.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are standard translations for work-related rest.
A: Sei stanco? B: Sì, ________ un momento di pausa?
'Possiamo avere' (Can we have) is a polite way to suggest a break.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, it is very common and means the same thing, but 'avere un momento di pausa' is more specific about the duration.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
Usually between 5 and 20 minutes. Anything longer is an 'intervallo' or 'pausa pranzo'.
Yes, 'avere un momento di pausa' or 'prendersi una pausa' is the standard way to say a relationship is on hold.
'Pausa' is a stop in activity. 'Riposo' is the act of resting/sleeping.
Yes, because 'momento' is a countable noun in this context.
Yes, but adding 'un momento di' makes it sound more natural and idiomatic.
Yes, it is 'la pausa'.
You say 'Sono in pausa'.
Yes, for a timeout or a rest between sets.
Verwandte Redewendungen
fare una pausa
similarto take a break
staccare la spina
idiomto disconnect
prendere respiro
similarto catch one's breath
intervallo
specialized formintermission
pausa pranzo
specialized formlunch break
