Can you turn down the TV? It's very audible.
ab-BAS-sa-re — stress the second syllable; double 's' sustained.
Use this (informal tu form) with a neighbour you know reasonably well. For a more formal approach with someone you don't know, switch to potrebbe abbassare (could you lower). This is one of the most common Italian neighbourhood requests.
TV noise is one of the most common complaints in Italian apartment buildings, particularly in older buildings with poor acoustic insulation. Italian cultural habits around TV — volumes up while cooking, news as background sound all day — mean that TV noise frequently penetrates between flats. A friendly direct request is always the best first approach.
La televisione si sente dal mio appartamento.
The TV is audible from my apartment.
Statement of the problem without direct accusation; creates awareness.
Potrebbe mettere i sottotitoli invece di alzare il volume?
Could you put on subtitles instead of turning up the volume?
Creative alternative suggestion; subtitles solve the problem without confrontation.
Le cuffie per la TV potrebbero risolvere il problema.
Wireless TV headphones could solve the problem.
Suggests a technical solution; wireless TV headphones are sold at electronics stores.
Italy has a strong television culture — RAI (Radiotelevisione Italiana) has been the social glue of Italian family life since the 1950s. The evening TG1 (RAI 1 news at 20:00) is still watched by millions and defines the national shared information experience. Older Italian residents are particularly attached to TV at high volumes — a combination of hearing loss (not always acknowledged) and cultural habit. Wireless headphones have become a popular and tactful neighbourhood solution.