Italian Phrase
Posso intervenire un attimo?
Meaning
A courteous way to ask if you may interject or say something briefly. It conveys respect for the current speaker while signalling that you have a short comment, correction, or question.
When to use
Use it in meetings, classroom discussions, group chats, or any situation where you want to add a quick remark without cutting off the speaker abruptly. It works both in formal and semi‑formal contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Possointervenireunattimo?
Posso (potere)
First‑person singular present of *potere*; used to ask permission or ability.
Infinitive after 'posso'
When asking permission, *posso* is followed directly by the infinitive verb.
intervenire
Infinitive meaning ‘to intervene, to step in, to speak up’; a formal verb often used in meetings.
un attimo
Indefinite article + noun meaning ‘a moment’; works as a short time expression.
Question mark
The whole clause is a polite request, so it ends with a question mark.
🗨In Conversation
Posso intervenire un attimo?
May I intervene for a moment?
Certo, vai pure.
Sure, go ahead.
✕Common Mistakes
Posso intervenire per un attimo?
The preposition *per* is unnecessary; the infinitive follows *posso* directly.
Posso intervengo un attimo?
After *posso* you need the infinitive, not a conjugated form.
Posso intervenire un po'?
While understandable, *un attimo* is the idiomatic expression for a brief interruption.
↔Alternatives
Posso dire qualcosa?
Can I say something?
Mi permetti di intervenire?
May you allow me to intervene?
Scusa, posso intervenire?
Excuse me, can I intervene?
Cultural Tip
In Italian the verb *potere* + infinitive is the standard polite formula for asking permission. In very formal settings you might add *Mi scusi* before the request: *Mi scusi, posso intervenire un attimo?* In casual conversation many Italians prefer the less formal *Posso dire una cosa?* rather than the more formal *intervenire*.