You’re visiting Italy and you have an appointment with a tourist guide or a friend, but you’re running late! What do you tell them?
Scusami (informal)/Mi scusi (formal), sono/arrivo in ritardo! – I’m sorry, I’m running late
Or
Tardo 5 minuti – I’m going to be 5 minutes late
To be late is essere in ritardo or arrivare in ritardo.
To be on time is essere puntuale.
Non mi piace arrivare in ritardo – I don’t like to be late
If someone is meeting you at the train station, but your train is late and you want to let them know, you say: Il treno ha 15 minuti di ritardo – the train is running 15 minutes behind schedule.
What about you, are you usually late or on time? Sei un ritardatario/a o sei puntuale?
