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PhrasesAt the BeachHo sabbia dappertutto!
A2informal

Ho sabbia dappertutto!

I have sand everywhere!

Pronunciation

oh SAB-byah dap-pehr-TOOT-toh.

When to use it

The universal beach complaint — sand gets into everything. A humorous and relatable statement that always gets laughs at Italian beaches.

What it means

Ho sabbia means I have sand. Dappertutto means everywhere. This is a common, slightly comic exclamation at the beach — sand in shoes, bag, food, hair. The frustration with sand is a universal human beach experience.

Variations

Come si toglie la sabbia dal costume?

How do you get sand out of a swimsuit?

Practical problem with a practical question.

Anche il panino è pieno di sabbia.

The sandwich has sand in it too.

The classic beach eating complaint.

Bisogna scuotersi bene prima di rientrare.

You need to shake off well before going back in.

Practical advice for removing sand.

Mini Dialogue

— Ho sabbia dappertutto! — Anche il panino è pieno di sabbia. — E nelle scarpe! Come si fa? — Vai alla doccia e scuotiti bene. — Dopo tre giorni di spiaggia mi sento come un granchio.

— I have sand everywhere! — The sandwich has sand in it too. — And in my shoes! What do you do? — Go to the shower and shake off well. — After three days of beach I feel like a crab.

Cultural Note

The ubiquity of sand at Italian beaches is part of their character. The fine sand of the Adriatic Riviera (Rimini, Riccione) — known as the 'Riviera Romagnola' — gets into absolutely everything. Italian beach culture accepts this philosophically — it is part of the estate al mare experience that millions of Italians would not trade for anything.