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Italian Phrase

Cosa mi consigli?

/ˈkɔ.za mi konˈsi.ʎi/
Meaning"What do you recommend (to me)?"
💡

Meaning

A polite way to ask someone for a recommendation, usually about food, places to visit, or anything the speaker is interested in. It literally means “What do you recommend to me?”.

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When to use

Use it in restaurants when you’re unsure what to order, in shops when you need a product suggestion, or when a local friend is helping you plan an itinerary.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Cosamiconsigli

1

Cosa / Che cosa

Both mean “what”. “Cosa” is more informal and common in spoken Italian, while “Che cosa” is slightly more formal.

2

Indirect object pronoun (mi)

“Mi” indicates that the recommendation is directed to the speaker (to me). In Italian, object pronouns are placed before the verb in the present indicative.

3

Verb conjugation – consigli

“Consigli” is the second‑person singular (tu) present indicative of consigliare “to recommend”. For a formal address you would say “consiglia”.

4

Verb‑pronoun order

In standard Italian the pronoun precedes the verb (mi consigli), not after it.

🗨In Conversation

A

Cosa mi consigli per cena?

What do you recommend for dinner?

Ti suggerisco la carbonara, è la specialità della casa.

I suggest the carbonara, it’s the house specialty.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Cosa mi consiglio?

    “Consiglio” is the first‑person singular (I recommend). The correct form for asking someone is “consigli”.

  • Cosa mi consigli?

    When speaking formally you must use the third‑person singular “consiglia”.

↔Alternatives

  • Che cosa mi consigli?

    What do you recommend (to me)?

  • Mi consigli qualcosa?

    Do you recommend anything?

  • Cosa mi suggerisci?

    What would you suggest (to me)?

  • Cosa mi consiglia? (formal)

    What do you recommend (to me?) – formal

it

Cultural Tip

Italians love to share personal favorites and often give a short explanation with their recommendation. In a casual setting you’ll hear “Cosa mi consigli?” while in a more formal restaurant you might use the polite form “Cosa mi consiglia?”. Also, don’t be surprised if the person adds a story about why they love the dish or place – it’s part of the charm of Italian hospitality.