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PhrasesRemote Work PhrasesNon riesco a sentirvi. C'è un problema audio?
A2

Non riesco a sentirvi. C'è un problema audio?

I cannot hear you. Is there an audio problem?

Pronunciation

'Riesco' = RYES-ko. Two syllables; the 'ie' is a diphthong. 'Sentirvi' = sen-TIR-vi.

When to use it

Use this immediately when you cannot hear others on a call. It is direct, essential and signals the technical issue without blaming anyone. Always check your own audio first before asking.

What it means

'Non riesco a' + infinitive is the Italian way to say 'I cannot manage to / I am unable to'. It is more expressive than 'non posso' — it implies you are trying but something is preventing you.

Variations

La connessione audio è scarsa.

The audio connection is poor.

Describes the problem rather than your experience of it

Siete in muto?

Are you muted?

Direct question; use when you see people speaking but hear nothing

Il microfono funziona?

Is the microphone working?

Asks others to check their end of the problem

Mini Dialogue

Tu: Non riesco a sentirvi. C'è un problema audio? Collega: Aspetta, pensavo fossi in muto tu. Tu: No, il mio microfono è attivo. Collega: Ah, ecco. Era il nostro sistema. Ora ti sentiamo. Prova a parlare.

You: I cannot hear you. Is there an audio problem? Colleague: Wait, I thought you were muted. You: No, my microphone is active. Colleague: Ah, there we go. It was our system. Now we can hear you. Try speaking.

Cultural Note

Technical issues on video calls are universally accepted in Italian remote work. The pandemic normalised imperfect home setups. However, repeatedly having audio problems can signal a lack of preparation — investing in a decent headset is worth it.