Italian Phrase
Prima controllo il mio telefono.
Meaning
This phrase is used to describe a habitual or immediate action where checking a mobile device is the priority. The word 'prima' acts as an adverb to sequence events, while 'controllo' comes from the verb 'controllare', meaning to check or inspect.
When to use
Use this phrase when discussing your morning routine or explaining what you are doing before starting another task. It is common in casual conversations about daily habits or technology use.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Primacontrolloilmiotelefono
Prima
An adverb of time used to indicate that this action precedes others in a sequence.
Articolati Possessivi
Unlike English, Italian requires the definite article 'il' before the possessive 'mio' for most objects.
🗨In Conversation
Cosa fai appena ti svegli?
What do you do as soon as you wake up?
Prima controllo il mio telefono.
First I check my phone.
✕Common Mistakes
Prima controllo mio telefono.
In Italian, possessive adjectives almost always require a definite article like 'il' before them.
Primo controllo il mio telefono.
Use 'prima' as an adverb meaning 'firstly'; 'primo' is an adjective meaning 'the first' and must agree with a noun.
↔Alternatives
Controllo il cellulare.
I check my cell phone.
Guardo il telefono.
I look at the phone.
Cultural Tip
While Italians are very connected to their 'cellulare', it is still considered polite to offer a quick 'scusa' (excuse me) if you need to check your phone during a face-to-face conversation. In Italy, 'telefono' and 'cellulare' are used interchangeably in modern contexts.