Italian Phrase
Hai la tessera?
Meaning
Literally ‘Do you have the card?’, this question is used to ask whether someone possesses a specific card – for example a transport pass, library card, or club membership card. The tone is informal and assumes familiarity with the listener.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to verify that a person already has a required card before proceeding – at a train station, library desk, gym reception, or when sharing a ride that needs a transport pass.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Hailatessera
Hai (avere)
Second‑person singular present of the verb *avere* (to have).
la (definite article)
Feminine singular definite article; matches the gender of *tessera*.
tessera (noun)
A feminine noun meaning ‘card’, ‘ticket’, or ‘membership pass’.
🗨In Conversation
Hai la tessera?
Do you have the card?
Sì, l'ho già in tasca.
Yes, I already have it in my pocket.
✕Common Mistakes
Hai il tessera?
The article must agree in gender; *tessera* is feminine, so use *la*.
Ha la tessera?
Verb conjugation is wrong for ‘you’; *ha* is third‑person singular.
Hai una tessera?
Using *una* changes the meaning to ‘any card’ rather than a specific one that both speakers know about.
↔Alternatives
Possiedi la tessera?
Do you possess the card?
Hai il tuo tesserino?
Do you have your little card?
Ti serve la tessera?
Do you need the card?
Cultural Tip
In Italy many everyday services rely on a *tessera*: the *tessera urbana* for public transport, a *tessera biblioteca* for library access, or a *tessera socio* for clubs. The diminutive *tesserino* is often used for smaller, informal cards (e.g., a gym pass). When asking a stranger, you might add *per favore* to soften the request.