Italian Phrase
Mi puoi riempire il bicchiere?
Meaning
A polite request asking someone to fill your glass. It’s commonly used in restaurants, cafés, or at home when you want more of a drink.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re at a table with a waiter, a host, or a friend who is pouring drinks. It’s a courteous way to ask for a refill without sounding demanding.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Mipuoiriempireilbicchiere?
Mi (indirect object pronoun)
‘Mi’ means ‘to me’ or ‘for me’; it precedes the verb and indicates who receives the action.
Puoi (potere, 2nd person singular)
‘Puoi’ is the present tense of ‘potere’ meaning ‘can/are you able to’, used for polite requests.
Riempire (infinitive)
The infinitive ‘riempire’ means ‘to fill’. After ‘puoi’, the infinitive follows directly.
Il (definite article)
‘Il’ is the masculine singular definite article, required before ‘bicchiere’.
Bicchiere (noun)
‘Bicchiere’ means ‘glass’ (as in a drinking glass).
🗨In Conversation
Mi puoi riempire il bicchiere?
Can you fill my glass?
Certo, subito!
Sure, right away!
✕Common Mistakes
Mi può riempire il bicchiere?
‘Può’ is third‑person singular; you need the second‑person ‘puoi’ when speaking directly to the person.
Riempi il bicchiere!
Using the imperative ‘riempi’ without the pronoun sounds abrupt; add ‘mi’ or use the polite ‘puoi’ construction.
Mi puoi riempire il bicchiere mio?
Italian places the article before the noun; ‘il mio bicchiere’ is correct, not ‘il bicchiere mio’.
↔Alternatives
Puoi riempire il mio bicchiere?
Can you fill my glass?
Mi riempi il bicchiere, per favore?
Could you fill my glass, please?
Potresti riempire il mio bicchiere?
Would you mind filling my glass?
Cultural Tip
In Italy it’s customary to say ‘per favore’ or use a friendly tone when asking for a refill. Waiters often respond with a quick ‘subito’ (right away). Avoid sounding too demanding; a smile and a polite ‘grazie’ after the refill are appreciated.