Italian Phrase
Sì, lo sono.
Meaning
Literally ‘Yes, I am it.’ In everyday Italian it is used to confirm a statement about yourself, where the adjective or noun being confirmed is understood from the previous context.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to answer a yes‑no question about yourself and the predicate (adjective, noun, or phrase) has already been mentioned, e.g., ‘Sei pronto?’ – ‘Sì, lo sono.’ It is slightly more formal than simply repeating the adjective.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Sìlosono
Sì (affirmation)
The adverb ‘sì’ means ‘yes’ and is used to give a positive answer to a yes‑no question.
lo (direct object pronoun)
‘lo’ is the masculine singular direct‑object pronoun. In this construction it replaces the whole predicate (e.g., ‘pronto’, ‘felice’) that has already been mentioned.
sono (essere, 1st person singular)
‘sono’ is the present‑tense form of the verb ‘essere’ (to be) for ‘io’. It follows the pronoun ‘lo’ to form a short affirmative answer.
🗨In Conversation
Sei pronto per l'esame?
Are you ready for the exam?
Sì, lo sono.
Yes, I am.
✕Common Mistakes
Sì, la sono.
‘la’ is the feminine pronoun; use ‘lo’ only when the implied predicate is masculine or neutral.
Sì, lo è.
The verb must agree with the subject ‘io’; ‘è’ is third‑person singular.
Sì lo sono.
A comma (or a short pause) is needed after ‘Sì’ to separate the affirmation from the clause.
↔Alternatives
Sì, lo sono io.
Yes, I am (emphatic).
Sì, sono pronto.
Yes, I’m ready.
Sì, certo.
Yes, of course.
Cultural Tip
Italian speakers often drop the pronoun in casual speech and simply say ‘Sì, sono pronto.’ The clitic ‘lo’ adds a touch of precision and is common in more careful or written responses. Remember that ‘lo’ must match the gender of the thing you’re referring to – use ‘la’ for feminine, ‘li’ for masculine plural, etc.