Italian Phrase
Indicano come arrivare ai binari.
Meaning
The sentence tells you that signs or instructions show the way to reach the train platforms. It is a neutral statement often heard in stations or travel guides.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are describing the information provided by station signage, when you explain how to get to the platforms, or when you answer a question about where to go in a railway station.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Indicanocomearrivareaibinari
Indicano (verb)
Third‑person plural present indicative of *indicare* ‘to indicate’; used for ‘they’ or impersonal subjects like signs.
come (adverb)
Interrogative adverb meaning ‘how’; introduces an indirect question and is followed by an infinitive.
arrivare (infinitive)
Infinitive of *arrivare* ‘to arrive, to get to’; after *come* the infinitive expresses the manner of reaching a place.
ai (preposition + article)
Contraction of *a* + *i* (to + the, masculine plural). Used before plural masculine nouns.
binari (noun)
Plural of *binario* ‘track, platform’; masculine plural, commonly used in railway contexts.
🗨In Conversation
Scusa, dove posso trovare le indicazioni per i treni?
Excuse me, where can I find the directions for the trains?
Indicano come arrivare ai binari.
They indicate how to get to the platforms.
✕Common Mistakes
Indicano come arrivare a i binari.
The preposition *a* contracts with the plural article *i* to *ai*; write it as a single word.
Indica come arrivare ai binari.
If the subject is plural (signs, people), use *indicano*; *indica* is singular.
Indicano come arrivare al binario.
When using *ai* you need the plural noun *binari*; *al binario* would be singular.
↔Alternatives
Mostrano la strada per i binari.
They show the way to the platforms.
Indicano la via per raggiungere i binari.
They indicate the route to reach the platforms.
Segnalano come arrivare ai binari.
They signal how to get to the platforms.
Cultural Tip
In Italian railway stations the signage is usually very clear and uses the word *binario* for both the track and the platform. When speaking to staff, a polite tone (using *per favore* or *mi scusi*) is appreciated, especially in busy stations like Roma Termini or Milano Centrale.