What do those red and white marks on the rocks mean?
Significano: see-nyee-FEE-kah-no. Five syllables — stress on the third.
Ask when you first encounter CAI trail markings. Perfect for first-time visitors to the Italian mountains who haven't seen the red and white waymarker system before.
Cosa significano is 'what do they mean' — significare is the verb 'to mean/signify'. Quei segni is 'those marks/signs' (masculine plural demonstrative + noun). A natural B1 curiosity question.
Questo è il sentiero numero tre?
Is this trail number three?
Confirming you're on the right numbered route.
Ho perso i segnali.
I've lost the markers.
Critical phrase — always retrace when you lose waymarkers.
Ogni quanto appaiono i segnali?
How often do the markers appear?
Useful for judging pace and confidence on the route.
The CAI (Club Alpino Italiano), founded in Turin in 1863, is responsible for marking and maintaining Italy's 60,000+ km of hiking trails. The red and white stripes with a trail number in the centre are recognised throughout Italy and are the backbone of mountain navigation.