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PhrasesMaking PlansAndiamo al cinema questa settimana?
A1informal

Andiamo al cinema questa settimana?

Shall we go to the cinema this week?

Pronunciation

'Cinema' = CI-ne-ma, stress on first syllable. Three syllables.

When to use it

Use this for a classic Italian date or friend outing. The cinema is one of the most common Italian social activities. Follow up by asking about film preferences or suggesting a specific title you want to see together.

What it means

'Andare al cinema' — note the article 'al' (a + il) with 'cinema'. Italian uses articles with places of entertainment: andare al cinema, al teatro, al ristorante, but andare a casa (no article). This is a key grammatical pattern.

Variations

C'è un film che vuoi vedere?

Is there a film you want to see?

Checking their preference before choosing

Sai cosa danno al Cinema Odeon questa settimana?

Do you know what is showing at the Cinema Odeon this week?

Specific cinema reference — shows knowledge of local venues

Preferisci il cinema in lingua originale o doppiato?

Do you prefer cinema in the original language or dubbed?

Italy has a strong dubbing tradition — this is a real choice

Mini Dialogue

— Andiamo al cinema questa settimana? — Volentieri! Cosa vuoi vedere? — C'è il nuovo film di Sorrentino. Mi interessa molto. — Ottima scelta! Prenotiamo i posti stasera?

— Shall we go to the cinema this week? — Gladly! What do you want to see? — There is the new Sorrentino film. I am very interested. — Excellent choice! Shall we book the seats tonight?

Cultural Note

Italy has one of the world's strongest dubbing ('doppiaggio') traditions — almost all foreign films are dubbed into Italian. Original language ('versione originale') screenings exist but are rarer, usually in larger cities. Director Paolo Sorrentino ('La Grande Bellezza', 'The Hand of God') is Italy's most celebrated contemporary film director.