Vorrei un caffè, per favore.
I would like a coffee, please.
IPA /vorˈrɛi un kafˈfɛ per favoˈre/
Say it vor-RAY oon kaf-FEH pehr fah-VOH-reh
The polite way to order — always better than voglio with strangers.
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.
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.
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.
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.
| 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.
| 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.
| 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
Learn these words with their pronunciation. Nouns are given with their article — always learn them together.
| Italian | English | Pronunciation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| volere | to want | /voˈlere/ voh-LEH-reh | |
| potere | to be able to, can | /poˈtere/ poh-TEH-reh | |
| dovere | to have to, must | /doˈvere/ doh-VEH-reh | |
| piacere | to like, to be pleasing | /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, to exchange | /kamˈbjare/ kahm-BYAH-reh | |
| la stazione | the station | /la statsiˈone/ lah stah-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 | /lalˈbɛrɡo/ lal-BEHR-goh | |
| la camera | the room | /la ˈkamera/ lah KAH-meh-rah | |
| la chiave | the key | /la ˈkjave/ lah 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 | /laeroˈporto/ lah-eh-roh-POHR-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 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.
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.
Potrebbe aiutarmi, per favore?
Could you help me, please?
IPA /poˈtrebbe ajuˈtarmi per favoˈre/
Say it poh-TREHB-beh ah-yoo-TAR-mee pehr fah-VOH-reh
Potrebbe + infinitive + mi is the key formal request pattern.
Potrebbe ripetere, per favore?
Could you repeat that, please?
IPA /poˈtrebbe riˈpetere per favoˈre/
Say it poh-TREHB-beh ree-PEH-teh-reh pehr fah-VOH-reh
A lifesaver when you do not catch something.
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.
Potrei avere il menù, per favore?
Could I have the menu, please?
IPA /poˈtrɛi aˈvere il meˈnu per favoˈre/
Say it poh-TRAY ah-VEH-reh eel meh-NOO pehr fah-VOH-reh
Potrei is the io form of potere in the conditional.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dimmi pure.
Go ahead, tell me.
IPA /ˈdimmi ˈpure/
Say it DEEM-mee POO-reh
Pure adds a friendly go ahead.
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.
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.
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.
Vorrei cambiare camera, per favore.
I would like to change rooms, please.
IPA /vorˈrɛi kamˈbjare ˈkamera per favoˈre/
Say it vor-RAY kahm-BYAH-reh KAH-meh-rah pehr fah-VOH-reh
Cambiare + noun: to change something.
Vorrei un biglietto per Milano, per favore.
I would like a ticket to Milan, please.
IPA /vorˈrɛi um biʎˈʎetto per miˈlano per favoˈre/
Say it vor-RAY oon bee-LYEHT-toh pehr mee-LAH-noh pehr fah-VOH-reh
Per + city for the destination.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...?
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.
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.
Il conto, per favore.
The bill, please.
IPA /il ˈkonto per favoˈre/
Say it eel KOHN-toh pehr fah-VOH-reh
In Italy you usually have to ask for the bill.
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.
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.
Dialogues
A table for two
Emma arrives at a small trattoria in Florence and speaks with the waiter, Giulio.
-
Giulio
Buonasera! Mi dica.
Good evening! How can I help you?
-
Emma
Buonasera. Vorrei un tavolo per due, per favore.
Good evening. I would like a table for two, please.
-
Giulio
Certo, prego. Ecco il menù.
Of course, this way. Here is the menu.
-
Emma
Grazie. Potrei avere anche un bicchiere d'acqua?
Thank you. Could I also have a glass of water?
-
Giulio
Subito, signora.
Right away, madam.
-
Emma
Mi scusi, non ho ordinato questo.
Excuse me, I did not order this.
-
Giulio
Ah, mi dispiace! C'è stato un errore. Arrivo subito.
Oh, I am sorry! There has been a mistake. Coming right away.
-
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.
-
Sophie
Mi scusi, c'è un problema con la mia camera.
Excuse me, there is a problem with my room.
-
Paolo
Mi dica pure, signora.
Please, go ahead and tell me, madam.
-
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.
-
Paolo
Mi dispiace molto. Potrebbe darmi la chiave, per favore?
I am very sorry. Could you give me the key, please?
-
Sophie
Ecco, grazie. Vorrei cambiare camera, se possibile.
Here you are, thank you. I would like to change rooms, if possible.
-
Paolo
Certo. La camera dodici è libera.
Of course. Room twelve is free.
-
Sophie
Perfetto, grazie mille.
Perfect, thank you very much.
-
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.
-
James
Buongiorno. Vorrei un biglietto per Roma, per favore.
Good morning. I would like a ticket to Rome, please.
-
Impiegata
Andata e ritorno?
Single or return?
-
James
Solo andata. Quanto costa?
Just a single. How much is it?
-
Impiegata
Trentadue euro.
Thirty-two euros.
-
James
Potrei pagare con la carta?
Could I pay by card?
-
Impiegata
Certo. Il treno parte dal binario sei.
Of course. The train leaves from platform six.
-
James
Mi scusi, da quale binario parte? Non ho capito.
Sorry, which platform does it leave from? I did not understand.
-
Impiegata
Dal binario sei. Il treno delle dieci e venti.
From platform six. The 10.20 train.
Exercises
Answer actively — try to recall the Italian before you look at any hint.
Choose the polite way to order.
___ un caffè, per favore.
Choose the correct formal request.
___ aiutarmi, per favore?
Choose the correct form of piacere.
Mi ___ visitare Venezia. (I would like to visit Venice.)
Choose the formal way to say excuse me.
___, signora! Dov'è la stazione?
Write the correct form.
volere — io (conditional)
Write the correct form.
potere — Lei, formal you (conditional)
Write the correct form.
dovere — io (conditional)
Fill the gap with the polite form of volere.
___ prenotare un tavolo per due. (I would like)
Fill the gap with the correct form.
Non ___ il riscaldamento. (funzionare)
Fill the gap with the correct preposition.
C'è un problema ___ la camera. (with)
Translate into Italian.
Could you help me, please? (formal)
Translate into Italian.
I would like a ticket to Rome.
Translate into Italian.
The key does not work.
Translate into Italian.
Excuse me, where is the station? (formal)
Translate into Italian.
I did not order this.
Translate into English.
Mi piacerebbe visitare il centro storico.
Translate into English.
C'è un problema con la prenotazione.
Translate into English.
Dovrei confermare il volo.
Tap the words in the correct order.
Build the sentence: I would like a coffee, please.
Tap the words in the correct order.
Build the question: Could you help me, please? (formal)
Tap a formal phrase, then tap the informal equivalent.
Match each formal imperative to its informal twin.
Tap a sentence, then tap its place.
Match each problem to the place where you would say it.
Play the audio, then type exactly what you hear.
Listen and write the Italian sentence.
Play the audio, then choose what the speaker is asking for.
Listen. What does the speaker want?
Choose the correct article.
___ stazione è qui vicino.
Choose the correct article.
___ albergo è in centro.
Choose the correct pronoun.
___ piacerebbe un caffè. (I would like a coffee.)
Rewrite the sentence using the conditional.
Make it polite: Voglio un caffè.
Rewrite for a stranger you address as Lei.
Make it formal: Scusami, sono in ritardo.
True or false?
Voglio un caffè is the most polite way to order in a bar.
True or false?
Mi dica is used with people you address as Lei.
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:
- Order food and drink politely with vorrei
- Ask for help formally with Potrebbe + infinitive
- Choose correctly between scusami and mi scusi, dimmi and mi dica
- Report a problem with Non funziona and C'è un problema con
- 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