Italian Phrase
Mi serve la carta d'imbarco?
Meaning
The speaker is asking whether they need the boarding pass, typically before proceeding to security or boarding. It can also be used to confirm that they have the correct document in hand.
When to use
Use this phrase at the airline check‑in desk, at a self‑service kiosk, or when speaking with a travel companion to verify that you have the required boarding pass before moving on to security or the gate.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Miservelacartad'imbarco?
Mi serve
An impersonal construction where 'mi' is an indirect object pronoun meaning 'to me' and 'serve' (from servire) means 'is needed' – together they translate to 'I need'.
d'imbarco
A contraction of 'di imbarco' (of boarding). In Italian, preposition + article often contract before a vowel.
carta d'imbarco
A compound noun meaning 'boarding pass'. 'Carta' is feminine, so the article is 'la'.
Question mark placement
In Italian, only one question mark is used at the end of the sentence, unlike Spanish which uses opening and closing marks.
🗨In Conversation
Mi serve la carta d'imbarco?
Do I need the boarding pass?
Sì, la devi mostrare al controllo di sicurezza.
Yes, you have to show it at security.
✕Common Mistakes
Mi serve la carta di imbarco?
The preposition 'di' contracts to 'd'' before a vowel; the correct form is 'd'imbarco'.
Io serve la carta d'imbarco?
The verb must agree with the impersonal construction; use 'serve' with the pronoun 'mi', not 'io serve'.
Mi serve la carta d'imbarco
When asking a question, include the question mark (or intonation) to signal it's a query.
↔Alternatives
Ho bisogno della carta d'imbarco?
Do I need the boarding pass?
Devo avere la carta d'imbarco?
Do I have to have the boarding pass?
Mi serve il biglietto d'imbarco?
Do I need the boarding ticket?
Cultural Tip
In Italian airports, the boarding pass is called 'carta d'imbarco' nationwide, though some people also say 'biglietto d'imbarco'. Most airlines now accept a digital version on your phone, but it's polite to have a printed copy ready, especially at smaller regional airports. When speaking to airline staff, using the polite form 'Mi servirebbe la carta d'imbarco, per favore' adds extra courtesy.