Italian Phrase
A volte leggo un po'.
Meaning
Literally, ‘Sometimes I read a little.’ It conveys that the speaker reads occasionally and not for long periods. The phrase is informal and often used when talking about a hobby or a brief reading habit.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to describe a casual, irregular reading habit—e.g., in conversation with friends, in a diary entry, or when answering a question about how you spend your free time.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Avolteleggounpo'
A volte
An adverbial phrase meaning 'sometimes'. It is invariable and placed before the verb for emphasis.
leggo
First‑person singular present indicative of the verb leggere ‘to read’.
un po'
A shortened form of ‘un po’ di’, meaning ‘a little’. The apostrophe replaces the omitted ‘di’.
🗨In Conversation
Ti piace leggere?
Do you like reading?
Sì, a volte leggo un po'.
Yes, sometimes I read a little.
✕Common Mistakes
A volte leggo un po.
The apostrophe is required because the word ‘di’ is omitted; writing ‘un po’ without the apostrophe is considered a spelling error.
A volte leggere un po'.
Using the infinitive ‘leggere’ (A volte leggere un po') is incorrect; the verb must be conjugated to match the subject.
A volta leggo un po'.
‘Volte’ is plural; do not change it to singular ‘volta’ when paired with ‘a’ (A volta).
↔Alternatives
A volte leggo un po' di più.
Sometimes I read a bit more.
Leggo un po' di tanto in tanto.
I read a little now and then.
Di tanto in tanto leggo qualcosa.
Every now and then I read something.
Cultural Tip
In Italian conversation, ‘un po'’ is a very common filler that softens statements, making them sound modest or informal. It’s often used with verbs of leisure (leggere, ascoltare, guardare) to indicate a light, non‑committal amount of activity. Avoid over‑formalizing it; keep the apostrophe and the casual tone.