Italian Phrase
Sta per arrivare una tempesta?
Meaning
Literally, 'Is a storm about to arrive?' It asks whether a storm is imminent. The speaker is usually looking at the sky or hearing distant thunder and wants confirmation.
When to use
Use this question when you notice dark clouds, strong winds, or hear weather warnings and you want to confirm with someone else if a storm is about to hit.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Staperarrivareunatempesta?
Stare + per + infinitive
The construction 'stare per + infinitive' expresses that something is about to happen in the immediate future.
Indefinite article 'una'
Use 'una' before feminine singular nouns that are not previously mentioned, like 'tempesta'.
Question intonation
In spoken Italian, the rising intonation at the end of the sentence signals a yes/no question, even without inversion.
🗨In Conversation
Sta per arrivare una tempesta?
Is a storm about to arrive?
Sì, sembra proprio che stia per scoppiare.
Yes, it looks like it's about to break out.
✕Common Mistakes
Stà per arrivare una tempesta?
The verb 'stare' does not have an accent in this construction.
Sta per arriva una tempesta?
Do not use the present indicative 'arriva' here; the infinitive is required after 'stare per'.
Sta per arrivare la tempesta?
If the storm has already been mentioned, use the definite article 'la' instead of 'una'.
↔Alternatives
Una tempesta sta per arrivare?
Is a storm about to arrive?
Sta per scoppiare una tempesta?
Is a storm about to break out?
C'è una tempesta in arrivo?
Is there a storm coming?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, weather conversations are common small talk, especially in coastal or mountainous regions where storms can develop quickly. Italians often use the phrase 'sta per piovere' (it's about to rain) similarly. Remember that in formal contexts you might prefer 'È in arrivo una tempesta?' rather than the more colloquial 'Sta per arrivare...'.