Italian Phrase
Mi puoi chiamare per svegliarmi?
Meaning
The speaker is asking someone to give them a phone call at a specific time so that they can be woken up. It’s a polite request that combines a request for a call with the purpose of waking up.
When to use
Use this sentence when you need a personal wake‑up call – for example, when you’re traveling, have a night shift, or simply prefer a human voice over an alarm. It’s common among friends, family members, or coworkers who agree to help each other start the day.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Mipuoichiamarepersvegliarmi
Mi (indirect object pronoun)
‘Mi’ replaces ‘a me’ and indicates the person who receives the action of the verb.
Puoi (potere, 2nd person singular)
‘Puoi’ is the present indicative of ‘potere’, used to ask for permission or ability.
Chiamare (infinitive)
The infinitive verb follows ‘puoi’ to form a modal construction: ‘puoi + infinitive’.
Per + infinitive
‘Per’ introduces the purpose of the call; it is followed by another infinitive.
Svegliarmi (reflexive infinitive)
‘Svegliarmi’ = ‘svegliarsi’ + indirect object pronoun ‘mi’; the speaker is both the subject and the object of waking.
🗨In Conversation
Mi puoi chiamare per svegliarmi domani alle sette?
Can you call me to wake me up tomorrow at seven?
Certo, ti telefono alle sette e ti sveglio con una canzone.
Sure, I’ll call you at seven and wake you up with a song.
✕Common Mistakes
Mi puoi chiamare per svegliare?
‘Svegliarmi’ is needed because you are waking yourself; ‘svegliare’ would mean to wake someone else.
Puoi chiamare per svegliarmi?
The question mark is fine, but learners often drop the indirect object pronoun and say ‘Puoi chiamare per svegliarmi?’, which is ungrammatical because ‘mi’ must stay attached to the verb.
Mi puoi chiamare per svegliarmi domani alle 7?
In spoken Italian, the time is usually expressed with ‘alle sette’ (no numeral ‘7’). Using the numeral can sound overly formal or written.
↔Alternatives
Puoi telefonarmi per svegliarmi?
Can you phone me to wake me up?
Mi potresti chiamare per svegliarmi?
Could you call me to wake me up?
Fammi una sveglia telefonica, per favore.
Give me a wake‑up call, please.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, a ‘sveglia telefonica’ is a familiar way to help someone get up, especially for children, the elderly, or people who travel across time zones. While most Italians rely on alarm clocks, asking a family member or a close friend for a wake‑up call shows trust and a personal touch. In formal contexts (e.g., business), you’d more likely say ‘potrebbe chiamarmi…’ to keep the tone polite.