Italian Phrase
Controllalo ogni sei mesi.
Meaning
Literally, "Check it every six months." The sentence is a direct instruction to regularly inspect or verify something—often a device, a piece of equipment, or even a health condition.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving maintenance advice, setting a reminder for periodic checks, or instructing someone to keep an eye on something on a semi‑annual basis.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Controllaloogniseimesi
Imperative with direct object pronoun
"Controllalo" is the second‑person singular imperative of "controllare" combined with the masculine direct object pronoun "lo".
Frequency adverb "ogni"
"ogni" means "each" or "every" and is placed before the time expression it modifies.
Cardinal number agreement
The number "sei" (six) does not change; it simply precedes the plural noun "mesi" (months).
🗨In Conversation
Devo fare la manutenzione dell'auto?
Do I need to service the car?
Sì, controllalo ogni sei mesi.
Yes, check it every six months.
✕Common Mistakes
Controlla lo ogni sei mesi.
In the imperative the pronoun must be attached to the verb, not written separately.
Controllalo ogni 6 mesi.
Numbers are usually written out in full in sentences, especially in formal Italian.
Controllalo ogni sei mese.
The noun must stay plural; "mesi" is the correct plural form of "mese".
↔Alternatives
Fallo controllare ogni sei mesi.
Have it checked every six months.
Verifica ogni sei mesi.
Verify it every six months.
Effettua un controllo ogni sei mesi.
Carry out a check every six months.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, regular maintenance intervals—especially for cars, heating systems, and medical check‑ups—are often expressed with "ogni sei mesi". The phrase sounds natural in both formal written instructions and casual spoken advice, but keep the imperative tone polite by adding "per favore" if needed.