Italian Phrase
È già acceso.
Meaning
Literally “It is already on.” The sentence is used to state that a light, appliance, or any device that can be switched on is already in the ‘on’ position. It does not refer to a person being “on” in a figurative sense.
When to use
Use this phrase when you notice a lamp, TV, stove, or any electronic device is already switched on, especially if you were about to turn it on yourself or if you want to confirm its status.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ègiàacceso
È (essere)
Third‑person singular present of the verb *essere*, used here as the copula meaning “is”.
già
Adverb meaning “already”; it normally precedes the adjective or past participle it modifies.
acceso
Past participle of *accendere* used as an adjective meaning “turned on, lit”. It agrees in gender and number with the noun it describes.
🗨In Conversation
Devo accendere la luce?
Should I turn the light on?
No, è già acceso.
No, it's already on.
✕Common Mistakes
Già è acceso.
Adverb *già* should come before the adjective, not after the verb.
Il ragazzo è già acceso.
*acceso* describes lights or devices, not people; use *eccitato* or *entusiasta* for a person.
La lampada è già accesa.
Make sure the adjective agrees with the noun’s gender; *acceso* is masculine, *accesa* is feminine.
↔Alternatives
È già acceso.
It's already on.
Già acceso.
Already on.
È acceso già.
It’s on already.
Cultural Tip
In everyday Italian you’ll often hear the question form “È già acceso?” when you’re not sure whether something is on. Italians tend to keep the tone informal with friends, but in a professional setting you might add a polite “Mi scusi, è già acceso?” to avoid sounding abrupt.