Italian Phrase
Si può lavorare da casa?
Meaning
The sentence asks whether it is possible to work from home, either in a general sense ("Can one work from home?") or as a polite request for permission. It uses the impersonal "si" to keep the question neutral and non‑personal.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to inquire about remote‑work policies at a company, ask a colleague about their home‑office experience, or politely request to work from home yourself.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Sipuòlavoraredacasa?
Impersonal "si"
The particle "si" is used to make a statement impersonal, equivalent to English "one" or "it"; it does not refer to a specific person.
Potere (può)
"Può" is the third‑person singular present of the modal verb *potere* (to be able), matching the impersonal "si".
Infinitive after modal
After a modal verb like *potere*, the main verb stays in the infinitive (lavorare = to work).
Prepositional phrase "da casa"
"Da" indicates origin or starting point; "da casa" literally means "from home" and is the standard way to say "working from home".
Question intonation
Italian questions can be formed simply by raising intonation; no word order change is needed.
🗨In Conversation
Si può lavorare da casa?
Can we work from home?
Sì, l'azienda ha approvato il telelavoro per tutti i dipendenti.
Yes, the company has approved teleworking for all employees.
✕Common Mistakes
Si può lavorare a casa?
"A casa" means "at home" (location), while "da casa" means "from home" (origin) and is the correct preposition for remote work.
Può si lavorare da casa?
The impersonal "si" must come before the verb; "può si" is ungrammatical.
Si può lavora da casa?
After the modal *potere*, the main verb stays in the infinitive; using a conjugated form (e.g., *lavora*) is incorrect.
↔Alternatives
È possibile lavorare da casa?
Is it possible to work from home?
Posso lavorare da casa?
May I work from home?
Si può fare telelavoro?
Can we do teleworking?
Cultural Tip
Remote work became widespread in Italy after the COVID‑19 pandemic, but attitudes still vary by region and industry. In more traditional sectors, you might hear "lavorare in ufficio" (working in the office) as the default, so framing the request as a question like "Si può lavorare da casa?" shows respect for the employer's policies. Also, note that "da casa" is preferred over "a casa" when talking about the location of work.