Italian Phrase
Mi dai uno nuovo?
Meaning
Literally, “Will you give me a new one?” It is used when you want a replacement for something that is broken, missing, or simply not satisfactory. The tone can be neutral or slightly demanding, depending on context and intonation.
When to use
You would say this in a shop, a café, or any place where you receive an item and need a fresh one – for example, asking for a new pen, a replacement key, or a fresh slice of pizza. Adding ‘per favore’ or ‘scusi’ softens the request.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Midaiunonuovo?
Mi (indirect object pronoun)
‘Mi’ replaces ‘to me’ and is placed before the verb. It indicates who receives the action.
dai (present of dare)
‘Dai’ is the second‑person singular present of ‘dare’ (to give). It matches the informal ‘tu’ subject.
uno (indefinite article)
‘Uno’ is the masculine singular indefinite article used before nouns that start with a vowel or ‘z’, ‘s+consonant’, or ‘ps’, ‘gn’, ‘x’.
nuovo (adjective)
‘Nuovo’ means ‘new’ and agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (here masculine singular).
🗨In Conversation
Mi dai uno nuovo, per favore?
Could you give me a new one, please?
Certo, eccolo qui.
Sure, here it is.
✕Common Mistakes
Mi dai un nuovo?
‘Un’ is used before consonants; before a vowel you must use ‘uno’. ‘Mi dai un nuovo?’ is incorrect.
Mi dare uno nuovo?
Using the infinitive ‘dare’ (e.g., ‘Mi dare uno nuovo’) is ungrammatical; you need the conjugated form ‘dai’ for ‘tu’.
Mi dai uno nuovo!
The exclamation mark can make the request sound demanding. Use a question mark or add ‘per favore’ to keep it polite.
↔Alternatives
Puoi darmi uno nuovo?
Can you give me a new one?
Mi potresti dare uno nuovo?
Could you give me a new one?
Vorrei un nuovo, per favore.
I would like a new one, please.
Cultural Tip
In Italian, direct requests like ‘Mi dai…?’ can sound abrupt if you’re not familiar with the person. Adding a polite particle such as ‘per favore’, ‘scusi’, or using the conditional ‘potresti’ makes the request courteous. Also, note that in many regions (especially the north) people prefer the conditional form for requests, while in informal settings the simple present is common.