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PhrasesAsking DirectionsQuesto vicolo è un vicolo cieco?
B1

Questo vicolo è un vicolo cieco?

Is this alley a dead end?

Pronunciation

VI-co-lo CIIE-co — stress on first syllable of each. The 'ci' in cieco is /tʃ/ as in 'church'.

When to use it

Ask this before committing to a narrow alley in a historic city centre, to avoid having to backtrack.

What it means

Vicolo (alley/lane) — a narrow street in a historic centre. Cieco (blind/dead end) — vicolo cieco literally means 'blind alley'. This is the standard Italian term for a dead end street. The same word cieco also means blind (as in visually impaired).

Variations

Questo vicolo porta dove?

Where does this alley lead?

Porta dove (leads where) — asks the destination of the alley

Passa dall'altra parte?

Does it go through to the other side?

Passa dall'altra parte (goes to the other side) — checking for a through-route

Come esco da questo labirinto?

How do I get out of this maze?

Labirinto (labyrinth/maze) — humorous or exasperated description of winding streets

Mini Dialogue

— Questo vicolo è un vicolo cieco? — No, in fondo gira a sinistra e sbuca in Corso Umberto. — Perfetto, era quello che cercavo. — Sì, è una scorciatoia che pochi conoscono.

— Is this alley a dead end? — No, at the end it turns left and comes out onto Corso Umberto. — Perfect, that was what I was looking for. — Yes, it is a shortcut that few people know.

Cultural Note

Italian historic centres are typically a network of narrow vicoli (alleys) that can confuse even experienced navigators — local knowledge of shortcuts and cut-throughs is valuable and Italians share it freely when asked.