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Italian Phrase

Mi puoi portare altri asciugamani, per favore?

/mi ˈpwoj porˈta.re ˈal.tri as.t͡ʃu.ɡaˈma.ni per faˈvo.re/
Meaning"Could you bring me more towels, please?"
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Meaning

The speaker is politely asking someone to bring them more towels. The request is framed as a question, which in Italian makes it sound courteous.

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When to use

Use this phrase in hotels, B&Bs, hostels, or any setting where you need extra towels. It works equally well with staff, a roommate, or a friend who is handling the laundry.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Mipuoiportarealtriasciugamaniper favore

1

Indirect object pronoun (Mi)

‘Mi’ is the first‑person singular indirect object pronoun, meaning ‘to me’ or ‘for me’, placed before the verb.

2

Present tense of potere (puoi)

‘Puoi’ is the second‑person singular present form of ‘potere’, used to ask politely for permission or a favor.

3

Infinitive after modal verb (portare)

After a modal verb like ‘potere’, the main verb stays in the infinitive: ‘portare’ = ‘to bring/bring me’.

4

Indefinite adjective (altri)

‘Altri’ means ‘more’ or ‘other’; it agrees in gender and number with the noun that follows.

5

Plural noun (asciugamani)

‘Asciugamani’ is the plural of ‘asciugamano’ (towel).

6

Polite formula (per favore)

‘Per favore’ literally means ‘for please’; it softens the request and is placed at the end of the sentence.

🗨In Conversation

A

Mi puoi portare altri asciugamani, per favore?

Could you bring me more towels, please?

Certo, li porto subito.

Sure, I’ll bring them right away.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Mi puoi portare altri asciugamani per favore

    Missing the comma before ‘per favore’ can make the sentence feel rushed; the pause signals politeness.

  • Mi puoi portare altri asciugamani, per favore?

    Using a question mark after ‘per favore’ is optional; the whole sentence is already a question, so a period is also acceptable.

  • Mi puoi portare altri asciugamani, per favore!

    An exclamation mark makes the request sound urgent or demanding, which is impolite in formal settings.

↔Alternatives

  • Potresti portarmi altri asciugamani, per favore?

    Could you bring me more towels, please?

  • Mi servono altri asciugamani, per favore.

    I need more towels, please.

  • Per favore, mi porti altri asciugamani.

    Please, bring me more towels.

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Cultural Tip

In Italian hospitality, it’s common to ask for extra items politely using ‘per favore’ or a conditional form like ‘potresti’. Staff will usually respond with a friendly ‘subito’ (right away) or ‘con piacere’ (with pleasure). Avoid sounding demanding; a soft tone and a smile go a long way.