Italian Phrase
Cerca un telefono pubblico.
Meaning
“Find a public phone.” The sentence is a direct, informal command telling someone to look for a pay‑phone, usually because they need to make a call and don’t have a mobile device at hand.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re out on the street, in a train station, or in any public place and you need to locate a pay‑phone. It’s also handy when giving directions to a tourist who is looking for a place to make a call.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cercauntelefonopubblico
Cerca (imperative)
Cerca is the informal second‑person singular imperative of cercare, meaning “look for / find”. It can also be the present indicative third‑person singular, but in this phrase it’s used as a command.
un (indefinite article)
Un is the masculine singular indefinite article used before a consonant‑starting noun.
telefono (masc. noun)
Telefono is a masculine noun meaning “telephone”. In modern Italian it often refers to a mobile phone, but with the adjective pubblico it signals a pay‑phone.
pubblico (adjective agreement)
Pubblico is a masculine singular adjective that must agree in gender and number with telefono.
🗨In Conversation
Scusa, devo fare una chiamata urgente. Dove posso trovare un telefono?
Excuse me, I need to make an urgent call. Where can I find a phone?
Cerca un telefono pubblico vicino alla stazione; ce n’è uno accanto al tabacchino.
Look for a public phone near the station; there’s one next to the tobacco shop.
✕Common Mistakes
Cercare un telefono pubblico.
Cercare is the infinitive; you need the imperative form Cerca (or Trova).
Cerca un telefono pubblica.
Pubblica is the feminine form; telefono is masculine, so the adjective must be pubblico.
Cerca di un telefono pubblico.
The verb cercare does not take the preposition di before the object.
↔Alternatives
Trova un telefono pubblico.
Find a public phone.
Cerca un telefono a pagamento.
Look for a pay‑phone.
Cerca un telefono nella zona.
Look for a phone in the area.
Cultural Tip
Public pay‑phones have largely disappeared in Italy, but you can still find them in larger train stations, airports, and some bars or tabaccherie. When you ask for a "telefono pubblico" locals might also say "telefono a pagamento" or simply point you to a nearby shop that sells phone cards.