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Italian Phrase

Manca qualcosa in questa lista?

/ˈmaŋ.ka kwalˈko.za in ˈkwes.ta ˈli.sta/
Meaning"Is something missing from this list?"
💡

Meaning

Literally, “Is something missing in this list?” The speaker is checking whether the list is complete or if any items have been omitted.

🎯

When to use

Use this question when you are reviewing a checklist, a shopping list, a project plan, or any written enumeration and you want to confirm that nothing has been left out.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Mancaqualcosainquestalista?

1

Mancare (verb)

Mancare is used impersonally; the thing that is missing acts as the subject, and the verb stays in third‑person singular.

2

Qualcosa (indefinite pronoun)

Qualcosa means “something”. It can serve as the subject of mancare without an article.

3

In (preposition)

In introduces the location or context where something is missing.

4

Questa (demonstrative adjective)

Questa agrees in gender and number with the noun lista (feminine singular).

5

Lista (noun)

Lista is a feminine singular noun meaning “list”.

🗨In Conversation

A

Manca qualcosa in questa lista?

Is something missing from this list?

Sì, dimenticati i numeri di telefono dei clienti.

Yes, you forgot the customers' phone numbers.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Non manca qualcosa in questa lista?

    Using the negative form changes the meaning to “nothing is missing”. Use it only if you want to confirm completeness.

  • Mancare qualcosa in questa lista?

    Mancare is an intransitive verb; it does not take a direct object. The correct structure is “Manca qualcosa…”.

  • Manca qualcosa di questa lista?

    The preposition “di” is unnecessary here. The correct phrase is “Manca qualcosa in questa lista?”.

↔Alternatives

  • C'è qualcosa che manca in questa lista?

    Is there something that is missing in this list?

  • Qualcosa è assente in questa lista?

    Something is absent in this list.

  • Manca qualcosa qui?

    Is something missing here?

it

Cultural Tip

In everyday Italian, mancare is the go‑to verb for “to be missing”. It sounds more natural than the English‑style “non è presente”. When you want to be extra polite, you can add a softener like “per favore” or “mi sai dire”. Also note that in some northern dialects people may say “manca qualcosa in questa lista?” with a slightly shorter vowel in “lista”.