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PhrasesRenting a CarIl navigatore non prende il segnale. Cosa faccio?
B1

Il navigatore non prende il segnale. Cosa faccio?

The sat-nav is not getting signal. What should I do?

Pronunciation

na-vi-ga-TO-re — stress on fourth syllable. se-GNA-le — stress on second syllable. The 'gn' is /ɲ/.

When to use it

Say this to a rental agent or when calling roadside assistance if the in-car GPS system loses signal and you need guidance on alternatives.

What it means

Il navigatore (the sat-nav) — standard Italian term for GPS navigation system. Non prende il segnale (is not getting signal) — prende (gets, third-person of prendere). Cosa faccio (what should I do) — rhetorical problem question.

Variations

Posso usare Google Maps sul mio telefono?

Can I use Google Maps on my phone?

Almost always a better option than in-car rental GPS systems

Il navigatore dell'auto non è aggiornato.

The car's sat-nav is not up to date.

Aggiornato (updated) — rental car GPS maps are often years out of date

C'è un supporto per il telefono in macchina?

Is there a phone holder in the car?

Supporto (holder/mount) — using your phone for navigation requires a holder in Italy

Mini Dialogue

— Il navigatore non prende il segnale. Cosa faccio? — Provi a riavviarlo — tenga premuto il pulsante per cinque secondi. — Non cambia nulla. — Usi pure il suo telefono con Google Maps — è spesso più preciso comunque.

— The sat-nav is not getting signal. What should I do? — Try restarting it — hold the button down for five seconds. — Nothing changes. — Just use your phone with Google Maps — it is often more accurate anyway.

Cultural Note

Using a phone for navigation in a car in Italy requires it to be in a holder — holding a phone while driving is illegal and fines are substantial. Phone holders are cheap and available at Italian autogrill service stations.