A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Is it far" in Italian
Ask if a place is far away in Italian with 'È lontano?' – perfect for travel and directions.
È lontano?
eh lon-TAH-nohneutral
Italian TTS · 0:01
Use this when you're asking for directions and want to know the distance to your destination. For example, after asking 'Dov'è...?' (Where is...?), you can follow up with 'È lontano?' to gauge how far you'll need to walk or travel.
Alternatives
- È molto lontano?Use this to emphasize that you're concerned about a long distance.
- Quanto dista?This is a slightly more formal way to ask about the distance.
Ways to get it wrong
Confusing 'lontano' with 'lungo'
'Lontano' means 'far', while 'lungo' means 'long' (like a road or a period of time).
Forgetting the accent on 'è'
The accent on 'è' is crucial; it means 'is' and distinguishes it from 'e', which means 'and'.
A small cultural note
Italians often appreciate when you try to ask for directions in Italian, even if your pronunciation isn't perfect. Be prepared for them to give you directions in Italian too!
Frequently asked
how to ask if something is far in italian
Use the phrase 'È lontano?'. This directly translates to 'Is it far?' and is understood everywhere.
is 'è lontano' formal or informal
'È lontano?' is a neutral phrase that works in most situations. You don't need to worry about formality with this one.
what if it's very far
If you suspect it might be very far, you can add 'molto' to ask 'È molto lontano?' which means 'Is it very far?'.
