Italian Phrase
Copre danni o l'affitto non pagato.
Meaning
The sentence states that a guarantee, insurance policy, or deposit will cover either physical damages or rent that has not been paid. It is a concise way of listing the two main risks that are protected against.
When to use
Use this phrase when explaining the scope of a security deposit (cauzione), an insurance policy, or a landlord’s guarantee in a rental contract. It is typical in formal or semi‑formal discussions about tenancy rights and obligations.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Copredanniol'affittononpagato
Copre (verb)
Third‑person singular present indicative of *coprire* ‘to cover’; used here as a neutral statement about what is covered.
danni (noun)
Masculine plural noun meaning ‘damages’; follows the verb directly as its direct object.
o (conjunction)
Coordinating conjunction meaning ‘or’, linking two possible covered items.
l'affitto (noun with elided article)
Masculine singular noun ‘rent’; the definite article *il* elides to *l'* before the vowel *a*.
non (negation)
Adverb of negation placed before the participle to form the negative adjective ‘unpaid’.
pagato (past participle used as adjective)
Past participle of *pagare* ‘to pay’; with *non* it functions as an adjective meaning ‘unpaid’ and agrees in gender/number with *affitto*.
🗨In Conversation
Cosa copre la cauzione che devo versare?
What does the security deposit I have to pay cover?
Copre danni o l'affitto non pagato.
It covers damages or unpaid rent.
✕Common Mistakes
Copre danni o affitto non pagato.
The definite article before *affitto* is required; the correct form is *l'affitto*.
Copre danni o l'affitto non pagati.
The participle must agree with *affitto* (masculine singular), so it should be *pagato*, not *pagati*.
Copre danni o l'affitto non pagare.
Use the past participle *pagato* as an adjective, not the infinitive *pagare*.
↔Alternatives
Copre i danni o l'affitto non versato.
It covers damages or rent not paid.
Garantisce i danni o il mancato pagamento dell'affitto.
It guarantees damages or the non‑payment of rent.
Assicura i danni o il non pagamento dell'affitto.
It insures damages or the non‑payment of rent.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, most residential leases require a *cauzione* (security deposit) that is usually equal to one or two months’ rent. The deposit is legally allowed to be used to compensate the landlord for any property damage *or* for rent that the tenant fails to pay. Because the phrase appears in contracts, it is considered formal language; avoid using it in casual conversation unless you are discussing tenancy matters.