Italian Phrase
Puoi scaldare questo un po'?
Meaning
A polite request meaning ‘Can you heat this a little?’ It asks the listener to warm something—usually food or a drink—just enough, not to boiling point.
When to use
Use it in casual or semi‑formal settings when you want someone to warm up a dish, a cup of coffee, or any item that’s a bit too cold, but you don’t need it piping hot.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Puoiscaldarequestounpo'
Puoi (potere)
Second‑person singular present of *potere*, used to ask for permission or ability, equivalent to ‘can you…’.
scaldare
Regular -are verb meaning ‘to heat’ (from cold to warm). For reheating already cooked food, *riscaldare* is more common.
questo
Demonstrative pronoun meaning ‘this’, referring to a specific item within reach.
un po'
Idiomatic expression for ‘a little’; the apostrophe marks the elision of *poco*.
🗨In Conversation
Puoi scaldare questo un po'?
Can you heat this a little?
Certo, lo faccio subito.
Sure, I’ll do it right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Puoi scaldare questo un po'?
For food that has already been cooked, *riscaldare* is usually preferred; *scaldare* is for heating something that was cold.
Puoi scaldare questo un po
The apostrophe is essential; *po'* is the contracted form of *poco*.
Puoi scaldare questo un po'?
If the object is feminine, use *questa* (e.g., *questa zuppa*).
↔Alternatives
Potresti riscaldare questo un po'?
Could you reheat this a little?
Riscalda questo un po', per favore.
Heat this a little, please.
Mi potresti scaldare questo un po'?
Could you warm this up for me a bit?
Cultural Tip
In Italian households it’s common to ask family members to ‘scaldare’ something that’s just become cold, especially coffee or soup. Adding *per favore* or using the conditional (*potresti*) makes the request sound extra courteous. Remember that *un po'* is vague; if you need a specific temperature, specify it (e.g., *un po' più caldo*).