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PhrasesRemote Work PhrasesHo problemi di connessione. Vi sento a tratti.
A2

Ho problemi di connessione. Vi sento a tratti.

I have connection problems. I can hear you intermittently.

Pronunciation

'Connessione' = kon-nes-SYO-neh. Four syllables; stress the third. 'Tratti' = TRAT-ti.

When to use it

Use this when your internet is unstable and audio/video is cutting in and out. It quickly explains the situation and sets expectations for the rest of the call.

What it means

'A tratti' (in patches/intermittently) is a very useful Italian adverbial phrase for describing something that works only sporadically. It applies to audio, video, signals and many other contexts.

Variations

La connessione è instabile. Spengo il video.

The connection is unstable. I am turning off my video.

Proactive solution that preserves audio quality when bandwidth is low

Il segnale è debole. Potete mandarmi le slide dopo?

The signal is weak. Can you send me the slides afterwards?

Requests compensating materials for what you might miss

Vi sento a scatti.

I can hear you in bursts.

'A scatti' is another Italian phrase for choppy or intermittent audio

Mini Dialogue

Tu: Scusate, ho problemi di connessione. Vi sento a tratti. Responsabile: Capito. Preferisci chiamarci dal telefono? Tu: Se peggiora sì. Per ora resto così. Responsabile: Perfetto. Se perdi audio, mandaci un messaggio in chat.

You: Sorry, I have connection problems. I can hear you intermittently. Manager: Understood. Do you prefer to call us from the phone? You: If it gets worse, yes. For now I will stay like this. Manager: Perfect. If you lose audio, send us a message in the chat.

Cultural Note

Internet quality varies enormously across Italy. Urban centres like Milan and Rome have excellent fibre connectivity, but rural areas ('zone rurali') and small towns can still suffer from poor broadband. This geographical disparity is a recognised challenge for Italian remote workers.