Italian Phrase
Che c'è in questo piatto?
Meaning
Literally, "What is there in this dish?" It is used to ask about the ingredients or contents of a plate of food, whether you are at a restaurant, a friend's house, or a market stall.
When to use
Use this question when you want to know what a dish contains—especially if you have dietary restrictions, are curious about the recipe, or need to decide whether to order it.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Chec'èinquestopiatto?
Che (interrogative pronoun)
Used to ask "what"; can be followed by a verb or a noun phrase.
c'è (ci è)
Contraction of "ci è" meaning "there is/are"; the apostrophe replaces the omitted vowel.
in (preposition)
Introduces the location or container; here it means "in".
questo (demonstrative adjective)
Points to something close to the speaker; agrees in gender and number with the noun.
piatto (noun)
Masculine singular meaning "plate" or "dish" (as a food item).
🗨In Conversation
Che c'è in questo piatto?
What’s in this dish?
È una pasta al pesto con pomodorini e pinoli.
It’s pesto pasta with cherry tomatoes and pine nuts.
✕Common Mistakes
Che è in questo piatto?
"Che è" is not a valid contraction; the correct form is "c'è" (ci è).
Cosa è in questo piatto?
Use "cosa c'è" or "che c'è"; the verb must be present (c'è).
Che c'è questo piatto?
The preposition "in" is required to indicate "in the dish".
↔Alternatives
Cosa c'è in questo piatto?
What’s in this dish?
Che cosa contiene questo piatto?
What does this dish contain?
Mi scusi, cosa c'è dentro questo piatto?
Excuse me, what’s inside this dish?
Cultural Tip
In Italy it’s common to describe dishes by name rather than ask "what’s in it". If you’re unsure, a polite pre‑face like "Mi scusi" or "Scusate" softens the question. Also, remember that regional cuisines may use different ingredients, so asking shows interest and respect for local food culture.