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Italian Phrase

Per ora è tranquillo, ma non durerà.

/per ˈɔ.ra ɛ traŋˈkwil.lo ma non duˈre.ra/
Meaning"For now it's quiet, but it won't last."
💡

Meaning

Literally, “For now it is quiet, but it will not last.” The speaker is describing a temporary calm situation that they expect to change soon.

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When to use

Use this sentence when you want to comment on a short‑lived peace, such as a quiet street before a festival, a calm moment in a conversation, or a temporary lull in a busy schedule.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Peroraètranquillo,manondurerà.

1

Per + time expression

The preposition *per* is used with a time expression to mean “for” (e.g., *per ora* = “for now”).

2

Present simple of *essere*

*è* is the third‑person singular present of *essere* and describes a current state.

3

Adjective agreement

*tranquillo* must agree in gender and number with the subject; masculine singular here.

4

Conjunction *ma*

*ma* means “but” and links two contrasting clauses.

5

Negation with *non*

*non* precedes the verb to make the statement negative.

6

Future simple of *durare*

*durerà* is the third‑person singular future of *durare* (to last), indicating something that will happen later.

🗨In Conversation

A

Per ora è tranquillo, ma non durerà.

For now it's quiet, but it won't last.

Allora approfittiamone per fare una passeggiata.

Then let's take advantage of it and go for a walk.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ora è tranquillo, ma non durerà.

    Missing the preposition *per* changes the meaning; *per ora* specifically means ‘for now’.

  • Per ora è tranquilla, ma non durerà.

    Use *tranquillo* for a masculine singular subject; *tranquilla* would be wrong unless the subject is feminine.

  • Per ora è tranquillo, ma non dura.

    Do not use the present *dura* when you want to express a future prediction; the future *durerà* is required.

↔Alternatives

  • Per il momento è calmo, ma non resterà così.

    At the moment it's calm, but it won't stay that way.

  • Adesso è sereno, ma presto cambierà.

    Right now it's serene, but it will change soon.

  • Per ora è tranquillo, ma presto si farà più movimentato.

    For now it's quiet, but soon it will become busier.

it

Cultural Tip

In Italian, *tranquillo* can describe both a person’s mood and an environment’s atmosphere. When talking about a place, Italians often use *calmo* or *sereno* as alternatives. The phrase *per ora* is very common in everyday speech to stress the temporary nature of a situation.