Italian Phrase
Dipende dal paese.
Meaning
The sentence means 'It depends on the country.' It is used to indicate that a situation, rule, or condition varies depending on which nation you are referring to.
When to use
Use this phrase when comparing laws, customs, prices, or any other factor that changes from one country to another. It works well in both formal and informal conversations.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Dipendedalpaese
Verb dipendere
Dipendere is a regular -ere verb meaning 'to depend'. It is conjugated in the third person singular present as dipende.
Preposition dal
Dal is a contraction of 'da' + 'il', used before masculine singular nouns to mean 'from the' or 'on the' in certain contexts.
Noun paese
Paese means 'country' or 'village' and is masculine singular; it triggers the article 'il' which contracts to dal after 'da'.
🗨In Conversation
Qual è il prezzo medio di una birra?
What is the average price of a beer?
Dipende dal paese.
It depends on the country.
✕Common Mistakes
Dipende da il paese.
Do not use 'da il' separately; it must contract to 'dal' before a masculine singular noun.
Dipende dalla paese.
Avoid using the feminine article 'la' – paese is masculine, so it takes 'il' (dal).
Dipende dal paesi.
If you need a plural subject, change the verb to dipendono.
↔Alternatives
Varie a seconda del paese.
It varies depending on the country.
Secondo il paese, può cambiare.
According to the country, it can change.
Dipende dal luogo.
It depends on the place.
Cultural Tip
In Italian, the phrase dipende dal paese is often used when discussing EU regulations, travel advice, or cultural habits. Italians tend to be very aware of regional differences, so you might also hear dipende dalla regione (it depends on the region) when the conversation is more local.