Italian Phrase
Mi fai vedere il tuo passaporto, per favore?
Meaning
This polite request asks someone to show their passport. It uses the informal second‑person singular verb form ‘fai’ and the infinitive ‘vedere’ to mean ‘to let me see’. Adding ‘per favore’ softens the request, making it courteous.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to check identification, such as at a hotel front desk, airport security, a police checkpoint, or when a landlord asks for ID. It works in informal contexts with people you know, but remains polite enough for most service interactions.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Mifaivedereiltuopassaportoperfavore
Mi
Indirect object pronoun meaning ‘to me’; it indicates who receives the action.
fai
Second‑person singular present of ‘fare’; here it works as a causative ‘make/let me see’.
vedere
Infinitive ‘to see’; combined with ‘fai’ it forms ‘fai vedere’ = ‘let me see’.
il tuo
Possessive adjective ‘your’; matches the masculine singular noun ‘passaporto’.
passaporto
Noun meaning ‘passport’; masculine singular.
per favore
Polite phrase ‘please’; placed at the end of the request.
🗨In Conversation
Mi fai vedere il tuo passaporto, per favore?
Can you show me your passport, please?
Certo, eccolo.
Sure, here it is.
✕Common Mistakes
Mi fai vedere il tuo passaporto per favore
Missing the comma before ‘per favore’ can make the sentence sound rushed; the pause signals politeness.
Mi fai vedere il tuo passaporto, per favore?
Using ‘fai’ with a stranger can be too informal; switch to ‘puoi’ or the formal ‘può’.
Mi fai vedere il tuo passaporto, per favore!
Exclamation marks imply urgency; keep it a question mark for a polite request.
↔Alternatives
Puoi mostrarmi il tuo passaporto, per favore?
Could you show me your passport, please?
Mi può far vedere il suo passaporto, per favore?
Could you (formal) show me your passport, please?
Mi mostri il passaporto, per favore?
Please show me the passport.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, showing a passport is common when you’re a foreign visitor. Even in informal settings, adding ‘per favore’ is essential to keep the request courteous. If you’re speaking to someone you don’t know well or in a formal environment, switch to the formal ‘Lei’ form: ‘Mi può far vedere il suo passaporto, per favore?’