Italian · Real conversations
How to say “I'm running ten minutes late.” in Italian
Tell someone that you expect to arrive ten minutes after the agreed time.
Sono in ritardo di dieci minuti.
I'm running ten minutes late.
The example describes the amount of delay, rather than how long you have been traveling.
Use it in three situations
A delayed arrival
Sono in ritardo di dieci minuti.
I'm running ten minutes late.
An appointment update
Sono in ritardo di cinque minuti.
I'm running five minutes late.
A message to a friend
Arrivo con dieci minuti di ritardo al nostro incontro.
I'm running ten minutes late for our meeting.
What to watch for
A literal translation of 'running' can wrongly imply that you are moving on foot.
Read the whole expression before replacing a detail. The natural wording may use a different order or construction from the English sentence.
Your turn
Imagine changing plans. Say this in Italian: I'm running five minutes late.
Reveal a sample reply
Sono in ritardo di cinque minuti.
I'm running five minutes late.
Build a useful exchange
Explain a change and offer a clear next step.
This expression in other languages
A note on speaking Italian
Use tu with friends and Lei with someone you address formally. A request with vorrei or potrebbe can soften the tone; it still helps to say what you need clearly. The examples label the situation so you can choose the appropriate relationship.
Read doubled consonants distinctly and keep the written accents. The English translation explains the intended message; Italian often chooses a different construction rather than matching each English word.
