Bedeutung
Being distracted or daydreaming.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase is often associated with the 'poeta' (poet) or 'artista' (artist) stereotype. Italians generally have a soft spot for dreamers, provided they aren't driving a car at the time. Teachers frequently use this phrase. It's considered a 'gentle' reprimand compared to saying a student is 'pigro' (lazy). Fellini's films often feature characters who are 'nelle nuvole', blurring the line between the real world and their fantasies. With the rise of 'The Cloud' (il cloud), some younger Italians make puns about being 'nelle nuvole' when they are actually just on their phones.
Use it for yourself
It's a very polite way to ask someone to repeat something if you weren't listening.
Not for 'Happy'
Remember: Clouds in Italian are for distraction, not for being 'on cloud nine'.
Bedeutung
Being distracted or daydreaming.
Use it for yourself
It's a very polite way to ask someone to repeat something if you weren't listening.
Not for 'Happy'
Remember: Clouds in Italian are for distraction, not for being 'on cloud nine'.
The 'Testa' variation
If you want to sound even more native, use 'avere la testa tra le nuvole'.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'essere nelle nuvole'.
Scusa, non ti ho sentito perché ______ (io/imperfetto) ______.
The 'imperfetto' is used to describe a state in the past that was happening when something else occurred.
Which sentence correctly describes a person who is daydreaming?
Quale frase è corretta?
'Nelle nuvole' means daydreaming. 'Settimo cielo' means happy, and 'cade dalle nuvole' means surprised.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Ehi, mi ascolti?' B: 'Ah! Scusa, ______.'
The past tense 'ero' is most natural here as you are explaining why you *weren't* listening a second ago.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Un bambino guarda fuori dalla finestra invece di studiare.
Looking out the window instead of studying is a classic example of being 'nelle nuvole'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenScusa, non ti ho sentito perché ______ (io/imperfetto) ______.
The 'imperfetto' is used to describe a state in the past that was happening when something else occurred.
Quale frase è corretta?
'Nelle nuvole' means daydreaming. 'Settimo cielo' means happy, and 'cade dalle nuvole' means surprised.
A: 'Ehi, mi ascolti?' B: 'Ah! Scusa, ______.'
The past tense 'ero' is most natural here as you are explaining why you *weren't* listening a second ago.
Un bambino guarda fuori dalla finestra invece di studiare.
Looking out the window instead of studying is a classic example of being 'nelle nuvole'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, it's generally considered a gentle or even poetic way to describe distraction. However, in a serious work context, it might imply you aren't professional.
Yes, just conjugate 'essere'. For example: 'Lui è nelle nuvole'.
'Distratto' is a literal adjective. 'Essere nelle nuvole' is more descriptive and implies a dreamy, pleasant sort of distraction.
Not really. The idiom requires the plural 'nuvole'. 'In una nuvola' sounds like you are physically inside one specific cloud.
Yes, almost exactly. Both languages use the same metaphor for mental absence.
Yes, it is a standard Italian idiom recognized from North to South.
Absolutely. 'Ero nelle nuvole' is very common when someone catches you daydreaming.
Young people might say 'stare fuso' or 'essere flippato', but these are much more informal.
Yes, it can describe someone who has 'unrealistic' ideas, though 'vivere sulle nuvole' is slightly better for that.
The noun 'nuvole' is always feminine plural, regardless of the gender of the person who is distracted.
Verwandte Redewendungen
avere la testa tra le nuvole
synonymTo have one's head in the clouds.
cadere dalle nuvole
similarTo be completely surprised.
essere al settimo cielo
contrastTo be extremely happy.
sognare ad occhi aperti
similarTo daydream with eyes open.
stare con i piedi per terra
contrastTo be grounded/realistic.
