Bedeutung
Not being at home.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'Passeggiata' is the cultural backbone of 'essere in giro'. It's a slow, social walk taken in the late afternoon. In the South, being 'in giro' often involves stopping every few meters to talk to neighbors, making a 5-minute errand last an hour. For young people, 'essere in giro' is the default state on Friday and Saturday nights, often centered around the 'movida' districts. In Italy, many jobs (like sales or construction) require being 'in giro'. It's seen as a more dynamic, albeit tiring, way of working.
The 'Soft' Excuse
Use 'sono in giro' when you want to end a phone call politely. It implies you are busy without being rude.
Don't say 'nel giro'
Remember: 'in giro' (general) vs 'nel giro' (specific group). 'Nel giro della droga' means 'in the drug circle'!
Bedeutung
Not being at home.
The 'Soft' Excuse
Use 'sono in giro' when you want to end a phone call politely. It implies you are busy without being rude.
Don't say 'nel giro'
Remember: 'in giro' (general) vs 'nel giro' (specific group). 'Nel giro della droga' means 'in the drug circle'!
Combine with 'per'
Always use 'per' to specify the reason or place: 'in giro per lavoro', 'in giro per il centro'.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'essere in giro'.
Scusa, non posso parlare ora, ________ con il mio cane.
The subject is 'io' (implied by 'non posso'), so we use 'sono'.
Which sentence means 'There is a flu going around'?
Scegli la frase corretta:
'In giro' is the idiomatic way to say something is circulating.
Match the Italian phrase to its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are three distinct uses of the word 'giro'.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
A: 'Dove sei?' B: '________ per il centro, sto cercando un regalo.'
'Sono in giro' describes the current state of being out.
In which situation would you say 'C'è molta polizia in giro'?
Choose the best context:
'In giro' refers to the public space around the event.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Visuelle Lernhilfen
When to use 'Essere in Giro'
Social
- • Meeting friends
- • Passeggiata
- • Aperitivo
Tasks
- • Shopping
- • Errands
- • Work visits
General
- • Rumors
- • Viruses
- • Missing keys
Aufgabensammlung
5 AufgabenScusa, non posso parlare ora, ________ con il mio cane.
The subject is 'io' (implied by 'non posso'), so we use 'sono'.
Scegli la frase corretta:
'In giro' is the idiomatic way to say something is circulating.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are three distinct uses of the word 'giro'.
A: 'Dove sei?' B: '________ per il centro, sto cercando un regalo.'
'Sono in giro' describes the current state of being out.
Choose the best context:
'In giro' refers to the public space around the event.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenYes, it works for walking, driving, or taking the bus. It just means you are out of the house.
It's better to use 'fuori ufficio' (out of office) in formal emails, but 'in giro' is fine for a quick note to a colleague.
No, it implies you know where you are, even if you don't have a single destination.
'A zonzo' is much more informal and specifically means 'aimlessly/idly'.
Usually no. If you are at a specific house, you say 'sono da un amico'.
You don't use 'in giro' for that. You'd say 'ho molta esperienza' or 'ne ho viste tante'.
No, it is strictly spatial or related to circulation.
Yes, 'il giro' is always masculine.
Yes! 'Le mie chiavi devono essere in giro da qualche parte' (My keys must be around here somewhere).
Yes, it is a standard Italian expression used from North to South.
That's a different idiom meaning 'a crackdown' or 'tightening the screw'.
It's better to say 'sono in giro a fare shopping' or 'in giro per negozi'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
andare in giro
similarTo go around / to wander
fare un giro
similarTo take a stroll/ride
prendere in giro
contrastTo tease / to pull someone's leg
mettere in giro
builds onTo spread (a rumor/news)
girovagare
specialized formTo wander aimlessly
