My sister is arriving unexpectedly.
'All'improvviso' — al-lim-prov-VI-so. Five syllables, stress on the fourth. The 'v' is doubled.
Use when a family member arrives unexpectedly and you must be with them. In Italy, unexpected family visits are both common and considered a legitimate reason to drop everything.
'All'improvviso' means 'all of a sudden' or 'unexpectedly'. This phrase conveys surprise and lack of planning on your part — it wasn't something you could have warned about earlier, which removes blame from you.
Sono arrivati dei parenti a sorpresa.
Some relatives have arrived as a surprise.
More general — plural 'relatives' makes it even more unmanageable
Mia madre è venuta a trovarmi senza avvisare.
My mother came to visit without warning.
Very Italian scenario — parents visiting without notice is completely normal
Ho la famiglia a cena stasera, non lo sapevo prima.
I have family over for dinner tonight, I didn't know before.
Acknowledges the last-minute nature — sounds genuine
'La famiglia prima di tutto' (family first) is not a cliché in Italy — it's a deeply held value. No Italian would expect you to choose a social event over an arriving family member.