Asking questions in Italian: intonation and word order

English usually needs extra words to make a question: “You speak Italian” becomes “Do you speak Italian?”. Italian is simpler. A yes/no question, which is a question you can answer with yes or no, normally uses exactly the same words as a statement. Only your voice changes.

In writing, the question mark does the work: «Parli italiano.» “You speak Italian.” becomes «Parli italiano?» “Do you speak Italian?”. In speech, your voice goes up at the end. Italian has no word like “do” or “does” for questions, and you do not need to change the order of the words.

The other choice you make is who you are talking to. Italian has an informal “you”, tu, and a formal “you”, Lei, and the verb changes with each: «Come stai?» to a friend, «Come sta?» to a hotel receptionist.

Yes/no questions: same words, rising voice

To ask a yes/no question, say the statement and let your voice rise on the last word or two. A statement ends with a falling voice. This melody is the only signal, so make it clear, especially in short questions such as «Sei stanco?» “Are you tired?”. The exact tune varies across Italy, but a clear rise is understood everywhere.

Because the verb ending already shows who you mean, Italian usually leaves out the subject pronoun (io, tu, lui and so on) in questions too: «Hai fratelli?» “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”. You add the pronoun for contrast, for example when you turn a question back to someone: «E tu, sei di Milano?»

To check something you think is true, add «vero?» or «no?» at the end, like English “right?” or “isn’t it?”: «Sei inglese, vero?» “You’re English, aren’t you?”.

• Sei qui in vacanza? · Are you here on holiday?
• Studi o lavori? · Do you study or work?
• Il treno parte alle otto, no? · The train leaves at eight, doesn’t it?

Where the subject goes

When the subject is a noun, such as «il museo» or «Marco», it can stay at the start, as in a statement, or move to the end. Both are correct and common: «Marco è a casa?» and «È a casa Marco?» both mean “Is Marco at home?”. Putting the subject last gives it a little more focus.

Many short everyday questions start with the verb: «È libero questo posto?» “Is this seat free?”, «È lontana la stazione?» “Is the station far?”. Whatever the order, nothing is added at the front: Italian has no word that works like “do”.

Questions with a question word, such as «dove» “where” or «quando» “when”, follow their own pattern: question word first, then the verb, as in «Dove abita Marco?».

• Il bagno è al primo piano? · Is the bathroom on the first floor?
• È aperta la farmacia? · Is the pharmacy open?
• Tua sorella abita ancora a Napoli? · Does your sister still live in Naples?

Tu or Lei: informal and formal questions

Use tu with friends, family, children and people your own age in relaxed settings. Use Lei with adults you do not know, in shops, offices and hotels, and with older people. If you are not sure, start with Lei. The other person may invite you to switch: «Diamoci del tu!» “Let’s use tu!”.

Lei means “you”, but it takes the same verb form as «lui» and «lei», “he” and “she”. So a formal question always uses the third-person form of the verb: «Parli inglese?» becomes «Parla inglese?», and «Hai un momento?» becomes «Ha un momento?». Lei is often written with a capital L to show that it is formal.

When you ask several people at once, use the voi form. It works in both formal and informal situations: «Siete pronti?» “Are you ready?”.

• Scusi, ha l’ora? · Excuse me, do you have the time?
• Ciao, come stai? Tutto bene? · Hi, how are you? All good?

Come si chiama? and other questions to learn whole

Some questions are best learned as complete chunks. «Come ti chiami?» and «Come si chiama?» literally mean “How do you call yourself?”, and the answer uses the same verb: «Mi chiamo Emma». «Come si chiama?» also means “What’s his name?” or “What’s her name?”, and it works for places and things too: «Come si chiama tuo fratello?», «Come si chiama questa piazza?».

When you do not understand, a few questions keep the conversation going: «Come si scrive?» “How do you spell it?”, «Che cosa significa?» “What does it mean?”, «Come si dice in italiano?» “How do you say it in Italian?”. To ask someone to say something again, use «Può ripetere, per favore?» with Lei, or «Puoi ripetere?» with a friend.

Answering is easy, because Italian has no short answers like “Yes, I do” or “No, I’m not”. Say «Sì» or «No» on its own, or repeat the information: «Parli francese? Sì, un po’.» A negative answer usually needs two negative words: «No, non sono stanca.» You may also hear «Sì, lo sono» “Yes, I am”.