Italian Phrase
Cosa vuoi bere?
Meaning
Literally 'What do you want to drink?', this sentence is used to ask someone which beverage they would like. It is a neutral‑to‑informal way to offer a drink, common in cafés, restaurants, and at home.
When to use
Use it when you are serving or offering drinks to a friend, a family member, or a customer. In a formal setting (e.g., a hotel concierge) you would switch to the formal 'vuole' – 'Cosa vuole bere?'.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cosavuoibere?
Cosa (interrogative pronoun)
Used to ask 'what' and can stand alone before a verb or be combined as 'che cosa'.
Vuoi (volere, present 2nd person singular)
The verb 'volere' expresses desire; in the present tense 'vuoi' means 'you want'.
Bere (infinitive)
After verbs of desire like 'volere', Italian uses the infinitive form of the action.
Word order
In questions, the interrogative pronoun comes first, followed by the conjugated verb and then the infinitive.
🗨In Conversation
Cosa vuoi bere?
What would you like to drink?
Vorrei un caffè, per favore.
I would like a coffee, please.
✕Common Mistakes
Che vuoi bere?
The interrogative pronoun should be 'cosa' or 'che cosa', not 'che' alone.
Cosa vuoi bevi?
Do not conjugate the infinitive; after 'vuoi' you keep the verb in infinitive form.
Cosa vuole bere?
Using the formal 'vuole' with a friend sounds overly stiff; match the register.
↔Alternatives
Che cosa vuoi bere?
What do you want to drink?
Cosa desideri bere?
What would you like to drink?
Cosa ti va di bere?
What do you feel like drinking?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, waiters often ask 'Cosa desidera?' (formal) or 'Cosa vuoi?' (informal) before taking your order. 'Cosa' and 'che cosa' are interchangeable, but 'che cosa' sounds slightly more formal. Remember to match the verb form to the level of politeness: 'vuoi' for friends, 'vuole' for strangers or elders.