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PhrasesRoom ProblemsLa tapparella è rotta.
B1formal

La tapparella è rotta.

The roller shutter is broken.

Pronunciation

tap-pa-REL-la — four syllables, stress on the third.

When to use it

Italian rooms often have external roller shutters ('tapparelle') instead of or in addition to curtains. Report a broken one immediately.

What it means

'Tapparella' = roller shutter (the external rolling blind common in Italian homes and hotels). 'È rotta' = is broken (feminine). Tapparelle in Italian hotels are operated by a strap or an electric motor — both can fail and must be reported.

Variations

La tapparella non si abbassa.

The roller shutter will not go down.

Specify the direction of the failure

La tapparella è bloccata a metà.

The roller shutter is stuck halfway.

Describes the exact position — helps maintenance diagnose

Il cinghietto della tapparella si è rotto.

The roller shutter strap has broken.

Identify the specific broken component

Mini Dialogue

— La tapparella è rotta. Non si abbassa. La mattina mi sveglio con la luce alle cinque. — Mi dispiace. È elettrica o manuale? — Manuale, con il cinghietto. — Il cinghietto dev'essersi rotto. Mando qualcuno.

— The roller shutter is broken. It will not go down. In the morning I wake up with the light at five. — I am sorry. Is it electric or manual? — Manual, with the strap. — The strap must have broken. I will send someone.

Cultural Note

The 'tapparella' (roller shutter) is omnipresent in Italian buildings — in homes, hotels, shops, and offices. Unlike curtains, tapparelle provide complete darkness and excellent noise insulation when functional. They are considered essential for comfortable sleep in Italy.