Italian Phrase
Capito, gira a sinistra al monumento.
Meaning
‘Capito, gira a sinistra al monumento.’ means ‘Got it, turn left at the monument.’ The speaker first confirms they understand the request and then gives a clear, landmark‑based direction.
When to use
Use this sentence when you have just been asked for directions or when you want to confirm you understand a request before giving a precise turn‑by‑turn instruction, especially in a city where monuments are easy reference points.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Capitogiraasinistraalmonumento
Capito (understood)
Used as a short interjection meaning “understood” or “got it,” often placed at the start of a sentence.
Imperative: gira
‘Gira’ is the second‑person singular imperative of the verb ‘girare’ (to turn).
Preposition a + direction
‘a sinistra’ literally means ‘to the left’; the preposition a is required before a direction.
Contraction al = a + il
‘al’ combines the preposition a (to) with the definite article il (the) before masculine singular nouns.
Monumento (landmark)
Using a well‑known landmark (monumento) is a common way to make directions clearer.
🗨In Conversation
Scusi, come arrivo al museo?
Excuse me, how do I get to the museum?
Capito, gira a sinistra al monumento.
Got it, turn left at the monument.
✕Common Mistakes
Capito, gira sinistra al monumento.
The preposition ‘a’ is required before a direction; say ‘gira a sinistra’.
Capito, gira a sinistra al fontana.
If the noun is feminine (e.g., ‘la fontana’), the article changes; don’t use ‘al’ with feminine nouns.
Capito, gira a sinistra al monumenti.
‘Monumento’ is singular; the plural would be ‘monumenti’, which changes the article to ‘ai’.
↔Alternatives
Va bene, svolta a sinistra al monumento.
Alright, turn left at the monument.
D'accordo, gira a sinistra quando vedi il monumento.
Okay, turn left when you see the monument.
Capito, prendi la prima svolta a sinistra vicino al monumento.
Understood, take the first left near the monument.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, directions are rarely given as exact street numbers; locals prefer using well‑known landmarks such as churches, fountains, or monuments. Adding ‘al monumento’ not only clarifies the turn but also shows you’re familiar with the area, which is appreciated by native speakers.