Italian Phrase
Sì, tocca quando esci.
Meaning
The speaker confirms that something (a task, a turn, a responsibility) becomes relevant at the moment you leave. In everyday speech it often means “Yes, it’s your turn when you go out.”
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to tell someone that a duty or opportunity starts as soon as they leave a place – for example, reminding a roommate to take out the trash before heading out, or confirming whose turn it is in a game that will continue later.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Sìtoccaquandoesci
Sì (affirmation)
Used to give a positive answer, equivalent to English “yes”.
tocca (impersonal verb)
Third‑person singular of *toccare* used impersonally to mean “it is (someone’s) turn” or “it applies”.
quando (conjunction)
Introduces a temporal clause meaning “when”.
esci (present of uscire)
Second‑person singular present of *uscire* – “you go out/leave”.
🗨In Conversation
Devo mettere via i piatti?
Do I have to put the dishes away?
Sì, tocca quando esci.
Yes, it’s your turn when you go out.
✕Common Mistakes
Sì, è quando esci.
Learners often replace *tocca* with *è* (e.g., “Sì, è quando esci”), which loses the idea of a turn or responsibility.
Sì, quando tocca esci.
Placing *quando* before *tocca* changes the meaning; the correct order is *tocca quando*.
Sì, toccare quando esci.
Using the infinitive *toccare* (e.g., “Sì, toccare quando esci”) is ungrammatical in this context.
↔Alternatives
Sì, è il tuo turno quando esci.
Yes, it’s your turn when you go out.
Sì, spetta a te quando esci.
Yes, it’s up to you when you go out.
Sì, devi farlo quando esci.
Yes, you have to do it when you go out.
Cultural Tip
In Italian conversation, *tocca* is a very common, informal way to indicate whose turn it is or what responsibility now applies. It’s often used in family or roommate settings and carries a friendly, almost playful tone. Avoid using it in very formal contexts; there you would prefer *è il suo turno* or *è compito suo*.