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PhrasesRoom ProblemsLe tende non funzionano.
A2formal

Le tende non funzionano.

The curtains are not working.

Pronunciation

TEN-de — two syllables, stress on the first.

When to use it

Report broken curtain rails or non-functioning blackout curtains, especially if street lighting or early dawn light affects your sleep.

What it means

'Tende' = curtains (feminine plural). 'Non funzionano' is the third person plural of 'funzionare'. Curtain problems can significantly affect sleep quality — blackout curtains ('tende oscuranti') that do not close properly let in significant light.

Variations

Le tende non si chiudono completamente.

The curtains do not close fully.

Specify the exact problem — they may slide on a broken rail

Le tende oscuranti non bloccano la luce.

The blackout curtains do not block the light.

Important in summer when it gets light very early in Italy

Il binario delle tende è rotto.

The curtain rail is broken.

Identify the structural fault

Mini Dialogue

— Le tende oscuranti non funzionano. La mattina entra troppa luce. — Il binario è uscito dalla sede. È un'operazione semplice. Mando qualcuno. — Può farlo stasera prima che vada a dormire? — Certamente, passo il tecnico entro le venti.

— The blackout curtains are not working. In the morning too much light comes in. — The rail has come out of its fitting. It is a simple fix. I will send someone. — Can you do it this evening before I go to sleep? — Certainly, the technician will pass by before eight.

Cultural Note

Italian summer mornings can be surprisingly bright very early — sunrise in Rome in June is at 5:30am and in Milan at 5:00am. Effective blackout curtains are essential for good sleep. Always check on arrival whether they close completely.