A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "The seams are coming apart" in Italian
Tell a shopkeeper the stitching on an item is coming undone, so you can get a refund or exchange.
Le cuciture si stanno aprendo.
lay koo-CHEE-too-ray see STAH-nno ah-PREHN-dohneutral
Italian TTS · 0:01
Use this when you've bought clothing or fabric and notice a flaw. Point out the specific area to the salesperson.
Alternatives
- Si sta scucendo.Slightly more informal, focusing on the action of unravelling.
- Il filo si sta sfilacciando.Emphasizes that the thread itself is fraying.
Ways to get it wrong
Confusing 'aprire' with 'open'
'Aprire' means to open, but here 'si stanno aprendo' means 'are coming apart' or 'are opening up'.
Missing the reflexive 'si'
You need 'si stanno aprendo' to show the seams are opening by themselves, not that you are opening them.
A small cultural note
Italians generally expect quality, so pointing out a defect is common and usually handled smoothly by reputable shops.
Frequently asked
How to say the stitching is bad in Italian?
You can say 'Le cuciture sono fatte male' (The seams are badly made) or 'La cucitura è brutta' (The stitching is ugly).
What if the whole garment is falling apart?
You could say 'Questo capo si sta rovinando' (This garment is falling apart/getting ruined) or 'È di pessima qualità' (It's of very poor quality).
Can I say 'the seams are broken'?
While 'rotto' means broken, 'aprendo' (opening) or 'scucendo' (unravelling) is more accurate for seams coming apart.
