Italian Phrase
Il Re Leone sta passando adesso.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener that the movie 'The Lion King' is currently being shown, either on TV, streaming, or in a cinema. The verb 'passare' is used in the broadcasting sense, and the progressive construction emphasizes that the action is happening right now.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to inform someone that a specific program, especially a film, is on right now. It works in casual conversation, at the cinema lobby, or when discussing TV schedules.
✦Grammar Breakdown
IlReLeonestapassandoadesso
Il (definite article)
Masculine singular definite article used before a noun that is known to the listener.
Re (noun)
Means 'king'; here it is part of the proper title 'Il Re Leone' (The Lion King).
Leone (proper noun)
The name of the animal; together with 'Re' it forms the movie title.
stare + gerundio
The progressive present in Italian; 'sta passando' means 'is playing/being broadcast'.
passando (gerund)
Gerund of 'passare' used with 'stare' to indicate an ongoing action.
adesso (adverb)
Means 'now' and is commonly used in spoken Italian; can be replaced by 'ora'.
🗨In Conversation
Che cosa c'è in TV adesso?
What’s on TV right now?
Il Re Leone sta passando adesso.
The Lion King is playing now.
✕Common Mistakes
Il Re Leone è passando adesso.
The progressive in Italian uses 'stare' + gerund, not 'essere' + gerund.
Il Re Leone sta passare adesso.
After 'stare' you need the gerund form 'passando', not the infinitive.
Il Re Leone sta passando adesso ora.
Avoid stacking two adverbs meaning 'now' together; choose one.
↔Alternatives
Il Re Leone è in onda adesso.
The Lion King is on air now.
Il Re Leone è trasmesso adesso.
The Lion King is being broadcast now.
Il Re Leone è al cinema ora.
The Lion King is at the cinema now.
Cultural Tip
In Italian, the verb 'passare' is frequently used for TV and radio programs (e.g., 'passa la partita' – the match is on). When talking about movies, Italians often say 'è in onda' for TV broadcasts and 'è al cinema' for theatrical showings. 'Adesso' is informal; in more formal contexts you might hear 'ora' or 'in questo momento'.