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PhrasesAt the BeachC'è corrente pericolosa qui?
B1

C'è corrente pericolosa qui?

Is there a dangerous current here?

Pronunciation

cheh kor-REN-teh peh-ree-KOH-loh-zah KWEE.

When to use it

Before swimming in an unfamiliar sea location, especially near rocks, inlets, or headlands. Rip currents and lateral currents cause many drownings at Italian beaches.

What it means

Una corrente pericolosa is a dangerous current. Qui means here. La corrente is the current — a movement of water that can carry a swimmer away from shore. Knowing about local currents is essential sea safety knowledge.

Variations

Cosa fare se si viene trascinati dalla corrente?

What do you do if you are pulled by the current?

Essential safety knowledge: swim parallel to the shore, not against the current.

La corrente è più forte vicino agli scogli?

Is the current stronger near the rocks?

Rocks create dangerous water movements.

Il bagnino conosce le correnti di questa spiaggia?

Does the lifeguard know the currents of this beach?

The lifeguard is the best source of local sea knowledge.

Mini Dialogue

— C'è corrente pericolosa qui? — Sì, vicino a quegli scogli ci sono correnti laterali. — E in mezzo alla spiaggia? — No, lì è sicuro. Nuotate tra le due boe arancioni. — Grazie — terremo i bambini in zona sicura.

— Is there a dangerous current here? — Yes, near those rocks there are lateral currents. — And in the middle of the beach? — No, there it is safe. Swim between the two orange buoys. — Thank you — we'll keep the children in the safe zone.

Cultural Note

The Italian coast guard (Guardia Costiera) publishes daily sea safety bulletins and monitors beach safety with patrol boats and helicopters. Rescue operations (operazioni di salvataggio) happen frequently at Italian beaches in summer — most involve currents pulling swimmers away from shore. The golden rule: if caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore, not against the current.