Italian Phrase
Cosa stai leggendo adesso?
Meaning
This question asks someone what they are reading at this very moment. It uses the present progressive to stress that the reading activity is happening right now. The tone is informal and friendly, suitable for casual conversation.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to know a friend's current reading material, whether it's a book, article, or even a social‑media post. It works well in cafés, study groups, or online video calls where you can see the other person holding something to read.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cosastaileggendoadesso?
Cosa (what)
Interrogative pronoun used to ask about objects or actions; can be placed at the beginning of a question.
stai (present of stare)
Auxiliary verb used with a gerund to form the present progressive, equivalent to English 'are'.
leggendo (gerund of leggere)
Gerund form expresses an ongoing action; combined with 'stare' it creates the progressive tense.
adesso (now)
Adverb that emphasizes the immediacy of the action; often interchangeable with 'ora'.
🗨In Conversation
Cosa stai leggendo adesso?
What are you reading right now?
Sto leggendo un romanzo di Elena Ferrante, 'L'amica geniale'.
I'm reading an Elena Ferrante novel, 'My Brilliant Friend'.
✕Common Mistakes
Cosa stai leggere adesso?
The gerund, not the infinitive, must follow 'stare' in the progressive tense.
Che leggi adesso?
While understandable, it drops the progressive nuance; using the gerund sounds more natural for ongoing actions.
Cosa sta leggendo adesso?
The third‑person form 'sta' is incorrect when addressing 'you' (second person). Use 'stai'.
↔Alternatives
Che cosa stai leggendo ora?
What are you reading now?
Cosa leggi adesso?
What are you reading now?
Che stai leggendo in questo momento?
What are you reading at this moment?
Cultural Tip
Italians love to discuss books over coffee; asking about reading material can quickly lead to a lively conversation about literature, politics, or pop culture. In formal settings you might prefer 'Che cosa sta leggendo' when speaking to a stranger or an elder, but with friends 'Cosa stai leggendo adesso?' is perfectly natural.