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Italian Phrase

Posso spedire questo liquido?

/ˈpɔs.so speˈdi.re ˈkwes.to liˈkwi.do/
Meaning"May I ship this liquid?"
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Meaning

The sentence asks for permission to ship a particular liquid, often used when dealing with postal services, couriers, or customs. It is a polite, formal request that focuses on the specific item rather than the act of shipping in general.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you need to confirm whether a specific liquid (e.g., perfume, medicine, or a sample) is allowed to be sent through a mailing service, especially in contexts where regulations are strict, such as international shipping or airline baggage.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Possospedirequestoliquido?

1

Posso (potere)

‘Posso’ is the first‑person singular present of the modal verb ‘potere’, used to ask permission or express ability.

2

spedire (verb)

‘Spedire’ is a regular -ire verb meaning ‘to send/ship’. In the infinitive form after ‘posso’ it keeps its base form.

3

questo (demonstrative adjective)

‘Questo’ agrees in gender and number with the noun that follows; here it modifies the masculine singular ‘liquido’.

4

liquido (masculine noun)

‘Liquido’ is a masculine singular noun meaning ‘liquid’. It does not change in the question.

5

Question mark

In Italian, the interrogative sentence is marked only with the final ‘?’, unlike English which also uses a rising intonation.

🗨In Conversation

A

Posso spedire questo liquido?

May I ship this liquid?

Mi dispiace, ma i liquidi infiammabili non sono ammessi.

I’m sorry, but flammable liquids are not allowed.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Posso spedire questi liquido?

    ‘Quest**i**’ is the plural form; the noun ‘liquido’ is singular, so the demonstrative must be ‘questo’.

  • Posso spedire questo liquidi?

    ‘Liquidi’ is the plural; keep the singular ‘liquido’ to match ‘questo’.

  • Posso spedire questo liquido per favore?

    While adding ‘per favore’ is polite, the question mark should stay at the end of the whole sentence, not after ‘per favore’.

↔Alternatives

  • È possibile inviare questo liquido?

    Is it possible to send this liquid?

  • Posso mandare questo liquido per posta?

    Can I mail this liquid?

  • Posso spedire questo prodotto liquido?

    May I ship this liquid product?

it

Cultural Tip

Italian postal and courier services are very strict about liquids, especially those that could be hazardous or leak. When you ask ‘Posso spedire questo liquido?’, be ready to specify the type of liquid, its volume, and whether it’s classified as hazardous. In many cases, you’ll need to fill out a customs declaration and use special packaging. Politeness matters: adding ‘per favore’ or a courteous tone can improve the response you receive.