Italian Phrase
Cosa posso fare per te?
Meaning
Literally “What can I do for you?”, this is a polite way to ask how you can help someone. It is commonly used in service settings, among friends, or whenever you want to offer assistance.
When to use
Use it when you want to show willingness to help – in a shop, restaurant, at work, or when a friend looks like they need a hand. Switch to the formal *per Lei* if you’re speaking to someone you don’t know well or to an elder.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cosapossofareperte
Cosa
Interrogative pronoun meaning “what”. It can stand alone at the start of a question.
posso
First‑person singular present of the verb *potere* (to be able, can).
fare
Infinitive of the verb *fare* (to do / to make).
per
Preposition meaning “for”. Here it introduces the beneficiary of the action.
te
Clitic object pronoun meaning “you” (informal). It follows the preposition *per*.
🗨In Conversation
Cosa posso fare per te?
What can I do for you?
Mi potresti portare il menù, per favore?
Could you bring me the menu, please?
✕Common Mistakes
Che posso fare per te?
The interrogative must be *Cosa* or *Che cosa*, not just *Che*.
Cosa posso fare per ti?
After a preposition the object pronoun is *te*, not *ti*.
Cosa posso fare per voi?
Use *per Lei* for formal singular; *per voi* is plural or formal in some regions and can sound too distant in a one‑to‑one conversation.
↔Alternatives
Che cosa vuoi?
What do you want?
In che modo posso esserti utile?
In what way can I be useful to you?
Cosa desideri?
What would you like?
Cultural Tip
In Italy offering help is a sign of courtesy. *Cosa* and *Che cosa* are interchangeable, but *Cosa* sounds a bit more informal. When addressing strangers, elders, or in a professional context, replace *te* with the formal *Lei*: “Cosa posso fare per Lei?”. Also, Italians often follow the offer with a brief explanation of what they can actually do, so be ready to specify your assistance.