Italian Phrase
Il parco è a un paio di isolati.
Meaning
The sentence means 'The park is a couple of blocks away.' It conveys a short walking distance, typically used when giving directions in an urban setting.
When to use
Use this phrase when someone asks for directions or you want to describe how far a place is from your current location, especially in cities where blocks are a common unit of distance.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ilparcoèaunpaiodiisolati.
Essere + a (location)
Use the verb 'essere' followed by 'a' to indicate where something is located.
un paio di
'Un paio di' means 'a couple of' and is used with plural nouns.
isolato (pl. isolati)
In Italian, 'isolato' refers to a city block; the plural 'isolati' is used for multiple blocks.
🗨In Conversation
Dove è il parco?
Where is the park?
Il parco è a un paio di isolati.
The park is a couple of blocks away.
✕Common Mistakes
Il parco è a un paio di isolato.
Use the plural 'isolati' because you are referring to more than one block.
Il parco è a un paio di gli isolati.
Do not add an extra article before 'isolati'; the phrase 'un paio di' already includes the article.
↔Alternatives
Il parco è a due isolati.
The park is two blocks away.
Il parco è a pochi isolati.
The park is a few blocks away.
Il parco è a pochi minuti a piedi.
The park is a few minutes' walk away.
Cultural Tip
In Italian cities, especially larger ones like Rome or Milan, people often refer to distance in terms of 'isolati' (blocks). It's a casual, everyday way to give directions, and locals will instantly understand the approximate walking time.