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Italian Phrase

Mi spieghi questo piatto?

/mi ˈspjeki ˈkwesto ˈpjat.to/
Meaning"Can you explain this dish to me?"
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Meaning

Literally, ‘Will you explain this dish to me?’ It is a polite way to ask a waiter, chef, or a friend to describe the ingredients, preparation, or story behind a particular plate. The sentence uses the informal ‘tu’ form, so it works best with people you know well or in a casual restaurant setting.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you are curious about a menu item you don’t recognize, when you want to know about allergens, or when you simply want to hear the chef’s recommendation. It’s common in both casual trattorias and more formal dining rooms, as long as you keep the informal tone appropriate to the relationship.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Mispieghiquestopiatto?

1

Mi (indirect object pronoun)

‘Mi’ means ‘to me’ and is placed before the verb to indicate who receives the explanation.

2

spieghi (present indicative, tu)

‘Spieghi’ is the second‑person singular present indicative of ‘spiegare’; in requests Italians often use the present indicative as a polite imperative.

3

questo (demonstrative adjective)

‘Questo’ modifies the noun that follows and means ‘this’.

4

piatto (noun)

‘Piatto’ is a masculine singular noun meaning ‘dish’ (as in a food dish).

5

Question mark

The whole sentence is a question; the intonation rises at the end.

🗨In Conversation

A

Mi spieghi questo piatto?

Can you explain this dish to me?

Certo! È una lasagna di melanzane, con mozzarella di bufala e pomodoro fresco.

Sure! It’s an eggplant lasagna with buffalo mozzarella and fresh tomato.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Mi spiega questo piatto?

    ‘Spiega’ is the third‑person singular form; use ‘spieghi’ for the informal ‘tu’ or ‘spieghi’ with a question mark for a request.

  • Mi spieghi a questo piatto?

    The preposition ‘a’ is unnecessary; the indirect object pronoun ‘mi’ already indicates ‘to me’.

  • Mi spieghi questo piatto

    Without the question mark the sentence sounds like a statement; add ‘?’ or raise intonation to make it a request.

↔Alternatives

  • Puoi spiegarmi questo piatto?

    Can you explain this dish to me?

  • Potresti spiegarmi questo piatto?

    Could you explain this dish to me?

  • Mi può spiegare questo piatto?

    Could you (formal) explain this dish to me?

it

Cultural Tip

In Italy it’s perfectly acceptable to ask the staff about a dish, but remember to keep the tone friendly. If you’re in a formal restaurant, switch to the polite ‘Lei’ form: “Mi può spiegare questo piatto?”. Also, Italians love to talk about the provenance of their food, so a genuine interest in the ingredients is often met with enthusiasm.