Italian Phrase
Di solito è al piano terra.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener that something is normally located on the ground floor. It can refer to a shop, an apartment, an office, or any place that habitually stays at street level.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to describe the usual location of a place or object, especially when answering a question like 'Where is the bakery?' or 'Where does the office sit?'.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Disolitoèalpianoterra
Di solito
Adverbial phrase meaning 'usually' or 'as a rule'. It modifies the whole clause.
è
Third‑person singular present of the verb 'essere' (to be).
al
Contraction of the preposition 'a' + definite article 'il', used before masculine singular nouns.
piano terra
Literal 'ground floor'; in Italy the floor at street level is called 'piano terra', while the floor above is 'primo piano'.
🗨In Conversation
Dove si trova la libreria?
Where is the bookstore?
Di solito è al piano terra.
Usually it's on the ground floor.
✕Common Mistakes
Di solito è sul piano terra.
Use 'al' (a + il) before 'piano terra', not 'sul' (su + il).
Di solito è al primo piano.
'Primo piano' is the floor above ground level; it changes the meaning.
Di solito al piano terra.
Missing the verb 'è' makes the sentence incomplete.
↔Alternatives
Di solito si trova al piano terra.
It is usually found on the ground floor.
Solitamente è al piano terra.
It is normally on the ground floor.
Di norma è al piano terra.
By default, it's on the ground floor.
Cultural Tip
In Italian buildings the 'piano terra' is the level at street height. The next level up is the 'primo piano', which in some countries is called the 'first floor'. In the north of Italy you may also hear 'piano rialzato' for a raised ground floor that often houses shops, while apartments are a step above.