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PhrasesOn the PlaneIl mio schermo non funziona.
A2

Il mio schermo non funziona.

My screen is not working.

Pronunciation

SCHER-mo — stress on first syllable. fun-ZIO-na — stress on second syllable.

When to use it

When the in-flight entertainment screen at your seat is malfunctioning.

What it means

'Non funziona' (it's not working / it doesn't work) is one of the most useful complaint phrases in Italian. 'Schermo' can mean screen, monitor, or display. This phrase works for any broken device or service. Cabin crew can sometimes reset the system remotely.

Variations

Le cuffie non funzionano.

The headphones are not working.

Try a different pair — defective headphones are common

Posso resettare il sistema di intrattenimento?

Can I reset the entertainment system?

There is usually a reset button in the seat arm or under the screen

Non riesco a trovare i film in italiano.

I cannot find the films in Italian.

Navigate to language settings in the IFE menu

Mini Dialogue

— Il mio schermo non funziona. — Mi dispiace. Ha provato a resettarlo? Il pulsante è sotto il bracciolo. — Sì, ma niente. — Vedo se posso resettarlo da qui. Un momento... Adesso funziona? — Sì, perfetto! Grazie.

— My screen is not working. — I'm sorry. Did you try resetting it? The button is under the armrest. — Yes, but nothing. — I'll see if I can reset it from here. One moment... Does it work now? — Yes, perfect! Thank you.

Cultural Note

In-flight entertainment (IFE) system failures on Italian long-haul flights entitle passengers to a small goodwill compensation — typically air miles or a voucher. Report the issue at the start of the flight rather than at the end. Short Italian domestic and European flights rarely have seat-back IFE systems.