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Lesson 15 of 16

Polite Italian and Real-Life Problem Solving

Ask politely and fix problems in Italian: vorrei, mi piacerebbe and potrebbe, formal and informal requests, and the survival patterns you need in restaurants, hotels, stations, airports and pharmacies.

⏱ About 55 minutes 28 phrases 32 exercises

What you will learn

  • Use vorrei, mi piacerebbe and potrei to ask for things politely
  • Make formal requests with the pattern Potrebbe + infinitive
  • Choose the right imperative: scusami or mi scusi, dimmi or mi dica
  • Order food and drink politely in a restaurant
  • Report a simple problem with Non funziona and C'è un problema con
  • Understand common replies in hotels, stations and shops

Quick review

Say these aloud before you start. They come from earlier lessons.

  • Quanto costa? How much does it cost?
  • C'è un bagno qui? Is there a bathroom here?
  • Si può pagare con la carta? Can you pay by card?
  • Voglio un caffè. I want a coffee.
  • Mi dica, per favore. Tell me, please. (formal)
  • Dimmi dov'è la stazione. Tell me where the station is. (informal)

Theory

Vorrei, potrei, dovrei: the polite conditional

The conditional is the tense of politeness. It uses the same stem as the future (Lesson 14) plus the endings -ei, -esti, -ebbe, -emmo, -este, -ebbero. So volere becomes vorrei (I would like), potere becomes potrei (I could) and dovere becomes dovrei (I should).

One change transforms how people hear you. Voglio un caffè (I want a coffee) can sound demanding with strangers; Vorrei un caffè is warm and polite. Use vorrei whenever you order, book or ask for something, and add per favore to finish the job.

  • Vorrei un caffè, per favore. I would like a coffee, please.
  • Potrei pagare con la carta? Could I pay by card?
  • Dovrei prenotare il treno. I should book the train.
Politeness thermometer from the blunt voglio up through vorrei and potrei avere to mi potrebbe aiutare?
Five wax seals with the magic words scusi, per favore, grazie mille, prego and non c'è problema.

Mi piacerebbe: how to say what you would love

Piacere works backwards from English: the thing you like is the subject, so the verb agrees with it, not with you. Mi piace Roma means literally Rome is pleasing to me.

In the conditional this gives you a gentle way to talk about wishes: mi piacerebbe + infinitive means I would like to... Use mi piacerebbero when the thing is plural: mi piacerebbero due biglietti (I would like two tickets). To ask a friend, say ti piacerebbe...?

  • Mi piacerebbe visitare il centro storico. I would like to visit the historic centre.
  • Ti piacerebbe un caffè? Would you like a coffee?
  • Mi piacerebbero due biglietti per Roma. I would like two tickets to Rome.

Two ways to ask: tu and Lei

With strangers, in shops and at reception desks, Italian uses the formal Lei — grammatically the third person. Potrebbe aiutarmi? (Could you help me?) is the most useful formal question you will ever learn: potrebbe plus any infinitive, with mi attached to the end of that infinitive. Informally, to a friend: Potresti aiutarmi?

Imperatives follow the same split. To a friend: scusami (excuse me), dimmi (tell me), dammi (give me) — the pronoun glues itself to the end. To a stranger: mi scusi, mi dica, mi dia — the pronoun comes before the verb. Same meaning, different door.

  • Potrebbe ripetere, per favore? Could you repeat that, please?
  • Mi scusi, dov'è il binario sei? Excuse me, where is platform six?
  • Scusami, sono in ritardo. Sorry, I am late.
A tourist asking at a Florentine gelateria: Vorrei un gelato, per favore!

When something goes wrong

Two patterns solve most everyday problems. First: Non funziona + the thing, for anything that does not work — remember the verb agrees, so non funzionano le luci for plurals. Second: C'è un problema con + the thing, for everything else.

Then say what you need with vorrei or mi serve (I need), and listen for the common replies: Subito (right away), Mi dispiace (I am sorry), Un momento (one moment). Calm, polite and clear wins every time.

  • Non funziona la doccia. The shower is not working.
  • C'è un problema con la prenotazione. There is a problem with the booking.
  • Non ho ordinato questo. I did not order this.
Five survival panels: il conto, per favore; la chiave non funziona; un biglietto per Firenze; ho perso la valigia; ho mal di testa.
The polite conditional: volere, potere, dovere
volere (to want) potere (can) dovere (must)
io vorrei potrei dovrei
tu vorresti potresti dovresti
lui / lei / Lei vorrebbe potrebbe dovrebbe
noi vorremmo potremmo dovremmo
voi vorreste potreste dovreste
loro vorrebbero potrebbero dovrebbero

Future stem + -ei, -esti, -ebbe, -emmo, -este, -ebbero. Vorrei is the polite replacement for voglio; potrebbe is the formal could you.

piacere in the conditional: what you would like
one thing / an action plural things
a me mi piacerebbe mi piacerebbero
a te ti piacerebbe ti piacerebbero
a Lei (formal) Le piacerebbe Le piacerebbero
a noi ci piacerebbe ci piacerebbero

The thing liked is the subject: mi piacerebbe un caffè, but mi piacerebbero due biglietti.

Getting attention: tu and Lei imperatives
informal (tu) formal (Lei)
scusare (to excuse) scusami mi scusi
dire (to tell) dimmi mi dica
dare (to give) dammi mi dia
aiutare (to help) aiutami mi aiuti

With tu the pronoun attaches to the end of the verb; with Lei it stands before the verb. Choose the column before you speak.

Vocabulary

Italian English Pronunciation Audio
volere to want /voˈlere/ voh-LEH-reh
potere to be able to, can, may /poˈtere/ poh-TEH-reh
dovere to have to, must /doˈvere/ doh-VEH-reh
il piacere pleasure; nice to meet you /pjaˈtʃere/ pyah-CHEH-reh
aiutare to help /ajuˈtare/ ah-yoo-TAH-reh
prenotare to book, to reserve /prenoˈtare/ preh-noh-TAH-reh
ordinare to order (food and drink) /ordiˈnare/ or-dee-NAH-reh
funzionare to work, to function /funtsjoˈnare/ foon-tsyoh-NAH-reh
pagare to pay /paˈɡare/ pah-GAH-reh
cambiare to change /kamˈbjare/ kahm-BYAH-reh
la stazione the station /la statˈtsjone/ lah staht-TSYOH-neh
il biglietto the ticket /il biʎˈʎetto/ eel bee-LYEHT-toh
il binario the platform /il biˈnarjo/ eel bee-NAH-ryoh
l'albergo the hotel /l alˈbɛrɡo/ lahl-BEHR-goh
la camera the room /la ˈkamera/ lah KAH-meh-rah
la chiave key /ˈkjave/ KYAH-veh
la farmacia the pharmacy /la farmaˈtʃia/ lah far-mah-CHEE-ah
la medicina the medicine /la mediˈtʃina/ lah meh-dee-CHEE-nah
il conto the bill /il ˈkonto/ eel KOHN-toh
il menù the menu /il meˈnu/ eel meh-NOO
il problema the problem /il proˈblema/ eel proh-BLEH-mah
l'aeroporto the airport /laeroˈpɔrto/ lah-eh-roh-POR-toh
il volo the flight /il ˈvolo/ eel VOH-loh
la valigia the suitcase /la vaˈlidʒa/ lah vah-LEE-jah
il resto the change (money) /il ˈrɛsto/ eel REH-stoh
l'aiuto help /laˈjuto/ lah-YOO-toh
subito straight away, immediately /ˈsubito/ SOO-bee-toh
purtroppo unfortunately /purˈtrɔppo/ poor-TROHP-poh
gentile kind, polite /dʒenˈtile/ jehn-TEE-leh
rotto broken /ˈrɔtto/ ROHT-toh

Ready-to-use phrases

Vorrei un caffè, per favore.

I would like a coffee, please.

IPA /vorˈrɛi un kafˈfɛ per faˈvore/

Say it vor-RAY oon kaf-FEH pehr fah-VOH-reh

The polite way to order — always better than voglio with strangers.

polite restaurant courtesy

Vorrei prenotare un tavolo per due persone.

I would like to book a table for two people.

IPA /vorˈrɛi prenoˈtare un ˈtavolo per ˈdue perˈsone/

Say it vor-RAY preh-noh-TAH-reh oon TAH-voh-loh pehr DOO-eh pehr-SOH-neh

Vorrei + infinitive works for any request.

restaurant restaurant booking

Mi piacerebbe visitare il centro storico.

I would like to visit the historic centre.

IPA /mi pjatʃeˈrɛbbe vizitaˈre il ˈtʃentro ˈstɔriko/

Say it mee pyah-cheh-REHB-beh vee-zee-TAH-reh eel CHEN-troh STOH-ree-koh

Mi piacerebbe + infinitive expresses a wish.

polite travel wishes

Potrebbe aiutarmi, per favore?

Could you help me, please?

IPA /poˈtrebbe ajuˈtarmi per faˈvore/

Say it poh-TREHB-beh ah-yoo-TAR-mee pehr fah-VOH-reh

Potrebbe + infinitive + mi is the key formal request pattern.

formal requests help

Potrebbe ripetere, per favore?

Could you repeat that, please?

IPA /poˈtrebbe riˈpetere per faˈvore/

Say it poh-TREHB-beh ree-PEH-teh-reh pehr fah-VOH-reh

A lifesaver when you do not catch something.

formal requests communication

Potrebbe parlare più lentamente?

Could you speak more slowly?

IPA /poˈtrebbe parˈlare pju lentaˈmente/

Say it poh-TREHB-beh par-LAH-reh pyoo lehn-tah-MEHN-teh

Più lentamente — more slowly.

formal requests communication

Potrei avere il menù, per favore?

Could I have the menu, please?

IPA /poˈtrɛi aˈvere il meˈnu per faˈvore/

Say it poh-TRAY ah-VEH-reh eel meh-NOO pehr fah-VOH-reh

Potrei is the io form of potere in the conditional.

restaurant restaurant requests

Potrei pagare con la carta?

Could I pay by card?

IPA /poˈtrɛi paˈɡare kon la ˈkarta/

Say it poh-TRAY pah-GAH-reh kohn lah KAR-tah

La carta here means the payment card.

polite shopping money

Dovrei confermare la prenotazione.

I should confirm the booking.

IPA /doˈvrɛi konferˈmare la prenotatsiˈone/

Say it doh-VRAY kohn-fehr-MAH-reh lah preh-noh-tah-TSYOH-neh

Dovrei is the conditional of dovere: should.

neutral travel hotel

Mi scusi, dov'è il bagno?

Excuse me, where is the bathroom?

IPA /mi ˈskuzi doˈvɛ il ˈbaɲɲo/

Say it mee SKOO-zee doh-VEH eel BAH-nyoh

Formal imperative of scusare — use with strangers.

formal courtesy questions

Scusami, ho perso il treno.

Sorry, I have missed the train.

IPA /skuˈzami o ˈperso il ˈtreno/

Say it skoo-ZAH-mee oh PEHR-soh eel TREH-noh

Informal — the pronoun attaches to the end.

informal courtesy travel

Mi dica.

Tell me. (How can I help you?)

IPA /mi ˈdika/

Say it mee DEE-kah

You will hear this constantly from waiters and receptionists — it invites you to speak.

formal courtesy service

Dimmi pure.

Go ahead, tell me.

IPA /ˈdimmi ˈpure/

Say it DEEM-mee POO-reh

Pure adds a friendly go ahead.

informal courtesy conversation

Non funziona la doccia.

The shower is not working.

IPA /non funˈtsjona la ˈdɔttʃa/

Say it nohn foon-TSYOH-nah lah DOHT-chah

The core pattern for anything broken: non funziona + noun.

neutral problems hotel

C'è un problema con la camera.

There is a problem with the room.

IPA /tʃɛ um proˈblema kon la ˈkamera/

Say it cheh oon proh-BLEH-mah kohn lah KAH-meh-rah

C'è un problema con + noun covers every other problem.

neutral problems hotel

La chiave non funziona.

The key does not work.

IPA /la ˈkjave non funˈtsjona/

Say it lah KYAH-veh nohn foon-TSYOH-nah

The subject can come first: la chiave non funziona.

neutral problems hotel

Vorrei cambiare camera, per favore.

I would like to change rooms, please.

IPA /vorˈrɛi kamˈbjare ˈkamera per faˈvore/

Say it vor-RAY kahm-BYAH-reh KAH-meh-rah pehr fah-VOH-reh

Cambiare + noun: to change something.

polite hotel requests

Vorrei un biglietto per Milano, per favore.

I would like a ticket to Milan, please.

IPA /vorˈrɛi um biʎˈʎetto per miˈlano per faˈvore/

Say it vor-RAY oon bee-LYEHT-toh pehr mee-LAH-noh pehr fah-VOH-reh

Per + city for the destination.

travel station tickets

Da quale binario parte il treno?

Which platform does the train leave from?

IPA /da ˈkwale biˈnarjo ˈparte il ˈtreno/

Say it dah KWAH-leh bee-NAH-ryoh PAR-teh eel TREH-noh

Partire da: to leave from.

travel station questions

Il volo è in ritardo.

The flight is delayed.

IPA /il ˈvolo ɛ in riˈtardo/

Say it eel VOH-loh eh een ree-TAR-doh

In ritardo — late, delayed. A reply you will often hear.

travel airport problems

Ho perso la valigia.

I have lost my suitcase.

IPA /o ˈperso la vaˈlidʒa/

Say it oh PEHR-soh lah vah-LEE-jah

Ho perso — I have lost. Add il passaporto if needed.

emergency airport problems

Mi serve qualcosa per il mal di testa.

I need something for a headache.

IPA /mi ˈsɛrve kwalˈkɔza per il ˈmal di ˈtɛsta/

Say it mee SEHR-veh kwahl-KOH-zah pehr eel MAHL dee TEH-stah

Mi serve — I need. Very useful in shops and pharmacies.

neutral pharmacy health

Ha qualcosa per il raffreddore?

Do you have something for a cold?

IPA /a kwalˈkɔza per il raffredˈdore/

Say it ah kwahl-KOH-zah pehr eel rahf-frehd-DOH-reh

Formal ha. Informally: Hai qualcosa per...?

formal pharmacy health

Posso provarlo?

Can I try it on?

IPA /ˈpɔsso proˈvarlo/

Say it POHS-soh proh-VAR-loh

Lo attaches to the infinitive: provare + lo. For a feminine item: provarla.

polite shopping clothes

Non ho ordinato questo.

I did not order this.

IPA /non o ordiˈnato ˈkwesto/

Say it nohn oh or-dee-NAH-toh KWEH-stoh

Calm and clear — staff will fix it immediately.

restaurant restaurant problems

Il conto, per favore.

The bill, please.

IPA /il ˈkonto per faˈvore/

Say it eel KOHN-toh pehr fah-VOH-reh

In Italy you usually have to ask for the bill.

restaurant restaurant money

Mi ha dato il resto sbagliato.

You have given me the wrong change.

IPA /mi a ˈdato il ˈrɛsto zbaʎˈʎato/

Say it mee ah DAH-toh eel REH-stoh zbah-LYAH-toh

Formal ha. Sbagliato — wrong, mistaken.

formal shopping problems

Subito, signora!

Right away, madam!

IPA /ˈsubito siɲˈɲora/

Say it SOO-bee-toh see-NYOH-rah

A reply you will hear constantly — it means your request was understood.

polite replies service

Dialogues

A table for two

Emma arrives at a small trattoria in Florence and speaks with the waiter, Giulio.

  1. Giulio

    Buonasera! Mi dica.

    Good evening! How can I help you?

  2. Emma

    Buonasera. Vorrei un tavolo per due, per favore.

    Good evening. I would like a table for two, please.

  3. Giulio

    Certo, prego. Ecco il menù.

    Of course, this way. Here is the menu.

  4. Emma

    Grazie. Potrei avere anche un bicchiere d'acqua?

    Thank you. Could I also have a glass of water?

  5. Giulio

    Subito, signora.

    Right away, madam.

  6. Emma

    Mi scusi, non ho ordinato questo.

    Excuse me, I did not order this.

  7. Giulio

    Ah, mi dispiace! C'è stato un errore. Arrivo subito.

    Oh, I am sorry! There has been a mistake. Coming right away.

  8. Emma

    Nessun problema, grazie.

    No problem, thank you.

The shower does not work

Sophie goes down to reception at her hotel in Bologna and speaks with Paolo.

  1. Sophie

    Mi scusi, c'è un problema con la mia camera.

    Excuse me, there is a problem with my room.

  2. Paolo

    Mi dica pure, signora.

    Please, go ahead and tell me, madam.

  3. Sophie

    Non funziona la doccia e la chiave non apre la porta.

    The shower is not working and the key does not open the door.

  4. Paolo

    Mi dispiace molto. Potrebbe darmi la chiave, per favore?

    I am very sorry. Could you give me the key, please?

  5. Sophie

    Ecco, grazie. Vorrei cambiare camera, se possibile.

    Here you are, thank you. I would like to change rooms, if possible.

  6. Paolo

    Certo. La camera dodici è libera.

    Of course. Room twelve is free.

  7. Sophie

    Perfetto, grazie mille.

    Perfect, thank you very much.

  8. Paolo

    Prego. Ecco la nuova chiave.

    You are welcome. Here is the new key.

At the ticket office

James buys a train ticket at the station in Turin.

  1. James

    Buongiorno. Vorrei un biglietto per Roma, per favore.

    Good morning. I would like a ticket to Rome, please.

  2. Impiegata

    Andata e ritorno?

    Single or return?

  3. James

    Solo andata. Quanto costa?

    Just a single. How much is it?

  4. Impiegata

    Trentadue euro.

    Thirty-two euros.

  5. James

    Potrei pagare con la carta?

    Could I pay by card?

  6. Impiegata

    Certo. Il treno parte dal binario sei.

    Of course. The train leaves from platform six.

  7. James

    Mi scusi, da quale binario parte? Non ho capito.

    Sorry, which platform does it leave from? I did not understand.

  8. Impiegata

    Dal binario sei. Il treno delle dieci e venti.

    From platform six. The 10.20 train.

Exercises

Multiple Choice Exercise 1

Choose the polite way to order.

___ un caffè, per favore.
Multiple Choice Exercise 2

Choose the correct formal request.

___ aiutarmi, per favore?
Multiple Choice Exercise 3

Choose the correct form of piacere.

Mi ___ visitare Venezia. (I would like to visit Venice.)
Multiple Choice Exercise 4

Choose the formal way to say excuse me.

___, signora! Dov'è la stazione?
Conjugation Exercise 5

Write the correct form.

volere — io (conditional)
Conjugation Exercise 6

Write the correct form.

potere — Lei, formal you (conditional)
Conjugation Exercise 7

Write the correct form.

dovere — io (conditional)
Fill Gap Exercise 8

Fill the gap with the polite form of volere.

___ prenotare un tavolo per due. (I would like)
Fill Gap Exercise 9

Fill the gap with the correct form.

Non ___ il riscaldamento. (funzionare)
Fill Gap Exercise 10

Fill the gap with the correct preposition.

C'è un problema ___ la camera. (with)
Translate To Italian Exercise 11

Translate into Italian.

Could you help me, please? (formal)
Translate To Italian Exercise 12

Translate into Italian.

I would like a ticket to Rome.
Translate To Italian Exercise 13

Translate into Italian.

The key does not work.
Translate To Italian Exercise 14

Translate into Italian.

Excuse me, where is the station? (formal)
Translate To Italian Exercise 15

Translate into Italian.

I did not order this.
Translate To English Exercise 16

Translate into English.

Mi piacerebbe visitare il centro storico.
Translate To English Exercise 17

Translate into English.

C'è un problema con la prenotazione.
Translate To English Exercise 18

Translate into English.

Dovrei confermare il volo.
Word Order Exercise 19

Tap the words in the correct order.

Build the sentence: I would like a coffee, please.
Word Order Exercise 20

Tap the words in the correct order.

Build the question: Could you help me, please? (formal)
Match Pairs Exercise 21

Tap a formal phrase, then tap the informal equivalent.

Match each formal imperative to its informal twin.
Match Pairs Exercise 22

Tap a sentence, then tap its place.

Match each problem to the place where you would say it.
Listen And Type Exercise 23

Play the audio, then type exactly what you hear.

Listen and write the Italian sentence.
Listen And Choose Exercise 24

Play the audio, then choose what the speaker is asking for.

Listen. What does the speaker want?
Article Choice Exercise 25

Choose the correct article.

___ stazione è qui vicino.
Article Choice Exercise 26

Choose the correct article.

___ albergo è in centro.
Pronoun Choice Exercise 27

Choose the correct pronoun.

___ piacerebbe un caffè. (I would like a coffee.)
Sentence Transform Exercise 28

Rewrite the sentence using the conditional.

Make it polite: Voglio un caffè.
Sentence Transform Exercise 29

Rewrite for a stranger you address as Lei.

Make it formal: Scusami, sono in ritardo.
True False Exercise 30

True or false?

Voglio un caffè is the most polite way to order in a bar.
True False Exercise 31

True or false?

Mi dica is used with people you address as Lei.
Flashcard Self Rating Exercise 32

Say the sentence aloud, then show the meaning and rate yourself.

Potrebbe aiutarmi, per favore?

Speak now

Say each sentence aloud three times: once slowly, once at normal speed, once from memory. Then change the noun or the place and say your own version.

  • Vorrei un tavolo per due, per favore. I would like a table for two, please.
  • Potrebbe aiutarmi? Non funziona la chiave. Could you help me? The key does not work.
  • Mi piacerebbe visitare Firenze domani. I would like to visit Florence tomorrow.
  • Mi scusi, c'è un problema con il conto. Excuse me, there is a problem with the bill.
  • Scusami, posso usare il tuo telefono? Sorry, can I use your phone?

Lesson checkpoint

Before you move on, make sure you can do all of this without looking:

  1. Order food and drink politely with vorrei
  2. Ask for help formally with Potrebbe + infinitive
  3. Choose correctly between scusami and mi scusi, dimmi and mi dica
  4. Report a problem with Non funziona and C'è un problema con
  5. Say what you would like to do with mi piacerebbe + infinitive

Remember this

  • Vorrei (I would like) is the polite form of voglio — use it whenever you order, book or ask.
  • Potrebbe + infinitive means could you...? and solves any formal request: Potrebbe aiutarmi?
  • Mi piacerebbe + infinitive expresses a wish; the verb agrees with the thing liked: mi piacerebbero due biglietti.
  • Formal imperatives put mi first: mi scusi, mi dica, mi dia. Informal imperatives glue it on: scusami, dimmi, dammi.
  • Report problems with Non funziona + noun and C'è un problema con + noun — then say what you need with vorrei or mi serve.

Go deeper: The conditional for politeness · Modal verbs · Questions · Present tense