Italian Phrase
Mi dai una forchetta pulita?
Meaning
A polite way to ask someone to hand you a clean fork. The sentence combines an indirect object pronoun with a direct request, and the adjective “pulita” emphasizes that you want the utensil to be clean.
When to use
Use this phrase in restaurants, at a family dinner, or any setting where you need a clean fork. It works well in informal contexts with friends or staff you’re on a first‑name basis with; add “per favore” for extra politeness.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Midaiunaforchettapulita?
Mi
Indirect object pronoun meaning “to me”. It precedes the verb in Italian.
dai
Second‑person singular present of dare (“to give”). Used for informal requests.
una
Indefinite article feminine singular, matching the noun “forchetta”.
forchetta
Feminine noun meaning “fork”.
pulita
Adjective meaning “clean”, placed after the noun and agreeing in gender and number.
🗨In Conversation
Mi dai una forchetta pulita, per favore?
Could you give me a clean fork, please?
Certo, eccola subito.
Sure, here it is.
✕Common Mistakes
Mi dai un forchetta pulita?
“Forchetta” is feminine, so the article must be “una”, not the masculine “un”.
Mi dai una forchetta pulito?
The adjective must agree with the feminine noun, so use “pulita”, not “pulito”.
Mi dà una forchetta pulita?
“Dà” is the third‑person singular form; you need the second‑person “dai” when speaking to the person directly.
↔Alternatives
Potresti passarmi una forchetta pulita?
Could you pass me a clean fork?
Mi potresti dare una forchetta pulita?
Could you give me a clean fork?
Per favore, una forchetta pulita.
Please, a clean fork.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, it’s common to ask for utensils politely using “per favore” or a conditional form (potresti). Avoid sounding demanding; a soft tone and a smile go a long way. Also, Italians usually keep the table tidy, so requesting a clean fork is perfectly normal and expected.