Italian Phrase
Qui c'è poco segnale.
Meaning
The sentence means 'There’s little signal here.' It is used to comment on weak mobile, Wi‑Fi, or radio reception in the current location.
When to use
Use this phrase when you notice a poor connection on your phone, tablet, or any device that relies on a signal, especially when you want to explain why a call drops or why you need to move to a better spot.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quic'èpocosegnale
Qui
Adverb of place meaning 'here' or 'in this place'. It usually appears at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis.
c'è
Contraction of 'ci è', the third‑person singular present of 'essere' meaning 'there is'. Used to state the existence of something.
poco
Indefinite adjective/adverb meaning 'little' or 'few'. When placed before a noun it modifies the noun directly.
segnale
Masculine singular noun meaning 'signal' (e.g., mobile, Wi‑Fi).
🗨In Conversation
Qui c'è poco segnale.
There's little signal here.
Andiamo più in alto, forse c'è più copertura.
Let's go up a bit, maybe there's better coverage.
✕Common Mistakes
Qui c'è poco di segnale.
The preposition 'di' is unnecessary; the correct construction is simply 'c'è poco segnale'.
Poco segnale c'è qui.
While understandable, the natural word order places 'Qui' at the start: 'Qui c'è poco segnale.'
C'è poco segnale qui.
Putting 'qui' at the end is grammatically possible but sounds less idiomatic; front‑positioning adds emphasis.
↔Alternatives
Qui il segnale è scarso.
The signal is weak here.
Qui c'è poca copertura.
There's little coverage here.
Il segnale è debole qui.
The signal is weak here.
Cultural Tip
In Italy people often say 'segnale scarso' or 'c'è poca copertura' when talking about mobile reception. The phrase is informal and works in everyday conversation, but in a formal setting you might prefer 'la copertura è insufficiente'. Regionally the word 'segnale' is used everywhere, but in the north you’ll also hear 'copertura' more often.