Italian Phrase
La campana sta per suonare.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener that the bell is on the verge of ringing. It is often used to signal that something is about to start or that a moment of attention is imminent.
When to use
Use this phrase when you hear a bell that signals the beginning of a class, a church service, a train departure, or any situation where a bell marks an upcoming event. It works well in both casual conversation and more formal announcements.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lacampanastapersuonare.
Definite article (La)
La is the feminine singular definite article, used before nouns like 'campana' that are feminine.
Noun gender (campana)
Campana is a feminine noun meaning 'bell'. Its plural is 'campane'.
Near‑future construction (sta per + infinitive)
The pattern 'stare + per + infinitive' expresses an action that is about to happen, similar to English 'is about to'.
Infinitive verb (suonare)
Suonare means 'to ring' or 'to sound'. In this construction it stays in the infinitive.
🗨In Conversation
Hai sentito? La campana sta per suonare.
Did you hear? The bell is about to ring.
Sì, è il segnale che la lezione sta per cominciare.
Yes, it's the signal that the lesson is about to start.
✕Common Mistakes
La campana è per suonare.
Use 'sta per' for the near‑future; 'è per' does not convey the same immediacy.
La campana suona.
The simple present 'suona' states a habit or a current action, not an imminent one.
La campana sta suonare.
Missing the preposition 'per' breaks the near‑future construction.
↔Alternatives
La campana suonerà tra un attimo.
The bell will ring in a moment.
Il campanile sta per suonare.
The bell tower is about to ring.
Sta per suonare la campana.
The bell is about to ring.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, bells (campane) are deeply embedded in daily life: school bells, church bells, and even town hall clocks use them to mark time and events. When you hear a bell, people often pause to listen, as it can signal the start of a class, a prayer, or a public announcement. The phrase is neutral in register, but in very formal settings you might hear 'Il campanile suonerà' instead of the more colloquial 'La campana sta per suonare.'