A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Could i ask you a question" in Italian
Politely ask a question in Italian, suitable for most situations when addressing someone you don't know well.
Posso farle una domanda?
POS-so FAR-leh OO-nah doh-MAHN-dahformal
Italian TTS · 0:01
Use this when you need to interrupt someone politely, like asking for directions from a stranger or inquiring about a product in a shop. It's a good general-purpose phrase for initiating a question to someone you'd address with 'Lei'.
Alternatives
- Posso farti una domanda?Use this when addressing someone you know well and use 'tu' with.
- Le posso fare una domanda?Slightly more indirect, also formal and polite.
Ways to get it wrong
Confusing 'fare' with 'ask'
While 'ask' can mean 'chiedere', here 'fare una domanda' (to make a question) is the correct idiom.
Incorrect pronoun
Using 'ti' instead of 'le' would make it too casual for a stranger.
A small cultural note
Italians generally appreciate politeness when approached by strangers. Starting with a polite request like this is a good way to make a positive first impression.
Frequently asked
How do I ask a question to a friend?
For a friend, you'd use the informal 'tu' form: 'Posso farti una domanda?' This is much more casual.
What if I want to ask something less direct?
You could say 'Mi scusi, avrei una domanda da porle,' which is even more deferential and translates to 'Excuse me, I would have a question to ask you.'
Is 'Posso chiedere una cosa?' also okay?
Yes, 'Posso chiedere una cosa?' is a bit more casual and means 'Can I ask something?' It's perfectly fine in many everyday situations.
