I'm stuck at work.
'Bloccato' — bloc-CA-to. Clear double 'c', stress on the second syllable.
Use with friends and family when work obligations prevent you from keeping plans. In Italy, being kept late by your boss is widely sympathised with.
'Bloccato/a' means stuck or held up — the ending changes based on gender (bloccato for male, bloccata for female). This phrase communicates that the situation is out of your control, shifting responsibility away from you.
Il capo mi ha trattenuto.
My boss kept me back.
More specific — makes it clear you had no choice
Ho una riunione che non finisce più.
I have a meeting that just won't end.
Very relatable in Italian office culture — evokes immediate sympathy
Devo restare in ufficio più del previsto.
I have to stay at the office longer than expected.
Slightly more formal — suitable for explaining to older relatives
In Italian culture, work-life balance is valued, and being repeatedly kept late by work can attract genuine outrage from friends and family on your behalf. Offering to pay for the next meal is a common way to make amends.