The metro is very crowded tonight.
'Affollato' — af-fol-LA-to. Double 'l' and stress on the third syllable.
Use this statement to commiserate with other passengers or warn friends during peak hours, event nights, or during strikes when fewer trains run.
'Affollato' derives from 'folla' (crowd). It can be intensified with 'molto' (very), 'tantissimo' (extremely), or 'da morire' (to death — colloquial). This is a useful adjective for describing packed places: buses, museums, beaches.
C'è un sacco di gente.
There are loads of people.
Very colloquial; 'un sacco di' means a lot of in informal speech.
Impossibile trovare posto.
Impossible to find a seat.
Laments the lack of seats.
Meglio aspettare il prossimo.
Better to wait for the next one.
Practical suggestion when the train is too packed.
During major events in Rome or Milan — football matches, concerts, public holidays — the metro becomes dangerously crowded and pickpockets are particularly active. Wearing a crossbody bag in front is strongly recommended.