Italian Phrase
Mostra loro come usare i contatti di emergenza.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘Show them how to use the emergency contacts.’ It is a direct instruction, often given when teaching someone to navigate a phone’s safety features or a workplace safety protocol.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to demonstrate the steps for accessing or dialing emergency numbers, adding emergency contacts to a device, or explaining any safety‑related contact list to a group of people.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Mostralorocomeusareicontattidiemergenza
Mostra (imperativo)
‘Mostra’ is the second‑person singular imperative of the verb ‘mostrare’ (to show). It is used to give a direct command.
loro (pronome oggetto)
‘loro’ is a third‑person plural pronoun meaning ‘them’. In the imperative construction it follows the verb.
come (congiunzione)
‘come’ introduces a subordinate clause meaning ‘how’ or ‘the way that’.
usare (infinito)
The infinitive ‘usare’ (to use) follows ‘come’ and functions as the verb of the subordinate clause.
i contatti di emergenza (sostantivo)
A noun phrase composed of the plural article ‘i’, the noun ‘contatti’ (contacts) and the prepositional phrase ‘di emergenza’ (of emergency).
🗨In Conversation
Mostra loro come usare i contatti di emergenza.
Show them how to use the emergency contacts.
Certo, aprirò l’app e aggiungerò il 112 come primo contatto.
Sure, I’ll open the app and add 112 as the first contact.
✕Common Mistakes
Mostrali come usare i contatti di emergenza.
‘Mostrali’ would mean ‘show them (the objects)’, not ‘show them how…’. The correct form is the imperative ‘Mostra’ followed by the pronoun ‘loro’.
Mostra loro come usare i contatti emergenza.
Learners sometimes drop the preposition ‘di’, saying ‘usare i contatti emergenza’, which is ungrammatical.
Mostra loro come usare i contatti d’emergenza.
In informal speech some people say ‘contatti d’emergenza’; while understandable, the full form is preferred in instructional contexts.
↔Alternatives
Insegna loro a utilizzare i contatti di emergenza.
Teach them to use the emergency contacts.
Spiega loro come impostare i contatti di emergenza.
Explain to them how to set up emergency contacts.
Fai vedere loro come aggiungere i contatti di emergenza.
Let them see how to add emergency contacts.
Cultural Tip
In Italy the universal emergency number is 112, which works for police, fire and medical services. Many smartphones have a built‑in ‘SOS’ feature that can be activated even from a locked screen. When teaching this phrase, it’s useful to point out that the emergency contacts list often includes family members or close friends who can be notified automatically when the SOS button is pressed.