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Italian Phrase

La biblioteca è al secondo piano.

/la bib.ljoˈte.ka ɛ al seˈkondo ˈpɾɔna/
Meaning"The library is on the second floor."
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Meaning

The sentence tells you that the library is located on the second floor of a building. In Italian, the preposition 'a' contracts with the masculine article 'il' to form 'al', and the ordinal 'secondo' precedes the noun 'piano'.

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When to use

Use this phrase when giving directions inside a multi‑storey building, such as a school, museum, or office complex, and you need to point out where the library can be found.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Labibliotecaèalsecondopiano

1

Definite article (La)

Used before feminine singular nouns; agrees in gender and number.

2

Noun (biblioteca)

A feminine singular noun meaning 'library'.

3

Verb essere (è)

Third‑person singular present of 'to be', used for location and identity.

4

Preposition + article (al)

Contraction of 'a' + 'il', meaning 'to/on the'.

5

Ordinal adjective (secondo)

Indicates order; placed before the noun it modifies.

6

Noun (piano)

Masculine singular meaning 'floor' or 'level' of a building.

🗨In Conversation

A

Scusi, dove è la biblioteca?

Excuse me, where is the library?

La biblioteca è al secondo piano.

The library is on the second floor.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Dove è la biblioteca?

    While understandable, native speakers prefer 'dove si trova la biblioteca?' for asking location.

  • La biblioteca è alla secondo piano.

    Do not use 'alla' because 'piano' is masculine; the correct contraction is 'al'.

  • La biblioteca è al 2° piano.

    Avoid mixing ordinal and cardinal numbers; say 'piano due' if you prefer the cardinal form.

↔Alternatives

  • La biblioteca si trova al secondo piano.

    The library is located on the second floor.

  • La biblioteca è al piano due.

    The library is on floor two.

  • La biblioteca è al piano superiore.

    The library is on the upper floor.

it

Cultural Tip

In Italy, floors are numbered starting from the ground floor (piano terra). The floor above it is called 'primo piano', and the next one is 'secondo piano'. When giving directions, Italians often say 'al piano' followed by the number, but in casual speech you may also hear 'piano due' or 'piano sopra' for higher levels.