Italian 101 · Lesson 4
Common Questions
Find a place, ask a price and recognise the question being asked.
Begin ↓01 / 08
Finding something
Dov’è il bagno?
doh-VEH eel BAHN-nyoh
Where is the bathroom?
Dove means where. Dov’è combines dove and è: where is. The apostrophe marks the missing vowel.
02 / 08
Asking what
Che cos’è?
keh koh-ZEH
What is it?
Come si dice “ticket” in italiano?
How do you say “ticket” in Italian?
Che and cosa can both ask what. Che cosa is also common. Learn the complete question before worrying about the alternatives.
03 / 08
Cost and quantity
Quanto costa?
KWAN-toh KOS-tah
How much does it cost?
Quante persone?
How many people?
Quanto asks how much. The noun you ask about can change the ending, as in quante persone: how many people.
04 / 08
Time
Quando parti?
KWAN-doh PAR-tee
When are you leaving?
A che ora apre?
ah keh OH-rah AH-preh
What time does it open?
Quando asks when. A che ora asks for the time on the clock; it is more specific.
05 / 08
How and why
Come stai?
KOH-meh stai
How are you?
Perché?
pehr-KEH
Why?
Come asks how. Perché can mean why in a question and because in an answer. Keep its stress on the last syllable.
06 / 08
Choosing one
Quale autobus?
KWAH-leh OW-toh-boos
Which bus?
Quali giorni?
Which days?
Quale asks which one, or what when a choice is involved. Before a plural noun, use quali.
07 / 08
A real exchange
Scusi, dov’è il bagno?
Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
In fondo, a destra.
At the back, on the right.
Listen for the first question word. It tells you whether the reply should be a place, a time or a price.
Remember this
Takeaway
Dov’è la stazione?
Where is the station?
Quanto costa?
How much does it cost?
A che ora apre?
What time does it open?
Keep these three complete questions ready. You can swap the place or item as your vocabulary grows.