Italian Phrase
Questo armadietto è libero?
Meaning
The speaker is asking whether the small locker in front of them is currently unoccupied and can be used. It’s a practical question you’ll hear in gyms, schools, train stations, or any place that offers lockers.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to check the availability of a locker before putting your belongings inside – for example, at a gym changing room, a school hallway, a train station locker area, or a public swimming pool.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Questoarmadiettoèlibero?
Questo (demonstrative adjective)
‘Questo’ means ‘this’ and must agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number with the noun it modifies.
Armadietto (noun)
‘Armadietto’ is a masculine singular noun, the diminutive of ‘armadio’, meaning a small locker or cabinet.
È (verb essere)
‘È’ is the third‑person singular present of ‘essere’, used here to link the subject with the adjective.
Libero (adjective)
‘Libero’ agrees with the masculine singular noun ‘armadietto’ and means ‘free/available’ (not ‘free of charge’).
Yes/No question formation
In spoken Italian, a yes/no question can be formed simply by raising intonation; the written form adds a question mark.
🗨In Conversation
Questo armadietto è libero?
Is this locker free?
Sì, è libero. Puoi usarlo.
Yes, it’s free. You can use it.
✕Common Mistakes
Questo armadietto è libera?
‘Libera’ is the feminine form; the noun ‘armadietto’ is masculine, so the adjective must be ‘libero’.
Questi armadietto è libero?
‘Questi’ is plural; the noun is singular, so you need ‘questo’.
Questo armadietto sono libero?
‘Sono’ is the plural form of ‘essere’; with a singular subject you must use ‘è’.
↔Alternatives
Questo armadietto è disponibile?
Is this locker available?
C'è posto libero in questo armadietto?
Is there a free spot in this locker?
Posso usare questo armadietto?
May I use this locker?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, ‘libero’ when referring to a locker means ‘available’, not ‘free of charge’. If you want to ask whether you have to pay, you would say ‘È a pagamento?’ or ‘Costa qualcosa?’. Also, lockers are often found in schools, gyms, and train stations, and they’re usually numbered, so you might hear ‘Il numero 12 è libero?’.