Interrogative Particles in Italian

Interrogative particles are words used to ask questions in Italian. They can be simple or reinforced to express surprise, disbelief, or emphasis.

Basic Interrogative Particles

Here are the most common interrogative particles in Italian:

• Quale? / Quali? → “Quale film vuoi vedere?” (Which movie do you want to watch?)

• Quanto? / Quanta? / Quanti? / Quante? → “Quanti amici hai in Italia?” (How many friends do you have in Italy?)

• Come? → “Come fai la pizza?” (How do you make pizza?)

• Dove? → “Dove andiamo in vacanza?” (Where are we going on vacation?)

• Chi? → “Chi ha chiamato prima?” (Who called earlier?)

• Che cosa? / Che? / Cosa? → “Che cosa vuoi mangiare stasera?” (What do you want to eat tonight?)

• Perché? / Come mai? → “Perché non sei venuto alla festa?” (Why didn’t you come to the party?)

• Quando? → “Quando parte il prossimo treno?” (When does the next train leave?)

The Subject Pronoun in Questions

In Italian, the subject pronoun is usually omitted in questions unless it’s needed for emphasis.

✅ “Dove lavori?” (Where do you work?)

❌ “Dove lavori tu?” (Unnecessary unless you want to emphasize “you”)

✅ “Di dove sei?” (Where are you from?)

❌ “Di dove sei tu?”

✅ “Avete tempo domani?” (Do you have time tomorrow?)

❌ “Avete tempo voi domani?”

Reinforced Interrogative Particles

In spoken Italian, interrogative particles can be reinforced using words like ma (but), mai (ever), or even e (and). This makes the question more expressive and emotional.

• Ma quale? (But which one?) → “Ma quale dieta, mangi sempre i dolci!” (What diet? You always eat sweets!)

• Ma quanto? (But how much?) → “Ma quanto costa questo caffè?!” (How much does this coffee cost?!)

• Ma dove? (But where?) → “Ma dove l’hai trovato?” (Where on earth did you find it?)

• Ma chi? / Chi mai? (But who? / Who ever?) → “Ma chi te l’ha detto?” (Who told you that?)

• Ma cosa? / Cosa mai? (But what? / What ever?) → “Ma cosa stai facendo?” (What on earth are you doing?)

• Ma perché? / Perché mai? (But why? / Why ever?) → “Ma perché hai comprato un gatto se sei allergico?” (Why did you buy a cat if you’re allergic?)

• Ma quando? / Quando mai? (But when? / When ever?) → “Ma quando mai ti ho detto questo?” (When did I ever tell you that?)

In casual or emotional speech, some people use stronger words, even vulgar ones, to reinforce questions:

• “Ma dove diavolo sei stato?” (Where the hell have you been?)

• “Ma che cavolo vuoi?” (What the heck do you want?)

Rhetorical Questions and Extra Particles

In spoken Italian, some rhetorical questions are reinforced by adding no? (right?) or vero? (true?).

• “Tu abiti a Roma, no?” (You live in Rome, right?)

• “Non vuoi uscire stasera, vero?” (You don’t want to go out tonight, do you?)

Another common reinforcement is che or ma che at the beginning of a question:

• “Che, hai finito di lavorare?” (So, are you done working?)

• “Ma che, sei serio?” (Are you serious?)