Italian Phrase
Arrivare in ritardo è scortese.
Meaning
The sentence states that arriving late is considered rude. It conveys a cultural norm that punctuality is a sign of respect, and breaking it is viewed as impolite.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving advice about etiquette, commenting on someone's habit of being late, or discussing cultural expectations in both casual and semi‑formal conversations.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Arrivareinritardoèscortese
Infinitive as Subject
The infinitive verb 'arrivare' functions as a noun here, acting as the subject of the sentence.
in ritardo
The prepositional phrase 'in ritardo' means 'late' and works as an adverbial complement.
è (essere)
Third‑person singular present of the copular verb 'essere', linking the subject to the adjective.
scortese
Adjective meaning 'rude' or 'discourteous'; it stays in the masculine singular to agree with the infinitive subject.
🗨In Conversation
Hai notato che Marco è sempre in ritardo?
Did you notice that Marco is always late?
Sì, arrivare in ritardo è scortese.
Yes, arriving late is rude.
✕Common Mistakes
Arrivare tardi è scortese.
Use the fixed expression 'in ritardo' rather than just 'tardi' when describing lateness.
Arrivare in ritardo è scortesi.
The adjective must stay singular (scortese) because the subject 'arrivare' is singular.
↔Alternatives
Essere in ritardo è maleducato.
Being late is impolite.
Giungere tardi è scortese.
Showing up late is rude.
Arrivare tardi è poco educato.
Arriving late is not very polite.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, punctuality is especially important in professional and formal settings. Being even a few minutes late can be interpreted as a lack of respect for the other person's time. When you need to be late, it’s courteous to call ahead and apologize.