Italian Phrase
Una radio a manovella è pratica.
Meaning
The sentence states that a hand‑crank radio is practical, emphasizing its usefulness when electricity is unavailable or in emergency situations.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to comment on the convenience of a device that runs without batteries or mains power, such as during camping trips, power outages, or in remote areas.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Unaradioamanovellaèpratica
Indefinite article (Una)
Use 'una' before feminine singular nouns that start with a consonant.
Noun gender (radio)
'Radio' is a feminine noun, so adjectives and articles must agree in gender.
Prepositional phrase (a manovella)
'A manovella' means 'with a crank' and is the standard way to describe hand‑crank devices.
Verb 'essere' (è)
'È' is the third‑person singular present of 'essere' and links the subject to its description.
Adjective agreement (pratica)
The adjective 'pratico/a' must match the gender of the noun; here it is feminine singular 'pratica'.
🗨In Conversation
Una radio a manovella è pratica.
A hand‑crank radio is practical.
Sì, soprattutto in caso di blackout.
Yes, especially in case of a blackout.
✕Common Mistakes
Una radio a manovella è pratico.
The adjective must agree with the feminine noun 'radio', so use 'pratica'.
Una radio con manovella è pratica.
While understandable, the idiomatic expression is 'a manovella' rather than 'con manovella'.
↔Alternatives
Una radio a manovella è utile.
A hand‑crank radio is useful.
Una radio a manovella è comoda.
A hand‑crank radio is convenient.
Una radio a manovella è funzionale.
A hand‑crank radio is functional.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, especially in mountainous regions and in emergency kits, hand‑crank radios are common because they can be powered without electricity. They are often recommended by civil protection agencies for disaster preparedness.