Italian Phrase
A quale grattacielo ti riferisci?
Meaning
Literally, “To which skyscraper are you referring?” In everyday English it translates to “Which skyscraper are you talking about?” The phrase asks the listener to specify the particular tall building they have in mind.
When to use
Use this question when you need clarification about a specific skyscraper someone mentioned – for example, during a city tour, a conversation about architecture, or when planning a meeting location in a city with several high‑rise buildings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Aqualegrattacielotiriferisci?
A (preposition)
The preposition *a* introduces the object of reference; in questions it often appears before *quale* to ask “to which”.
quale (interrogative adjective)
Quale means “which” and must agree in gender and number with the noun that follows (masc. sing. → *grattacielo*).
grattacielo (noun)
Masculine singular noun meaning “skyscraper”.
ti riferisci (reflexive verb)
The verb *riferirsi a* means “to refer to”. Conjugated in present 2nd‑person singular; the clitic *ti* is the indirect object pronoun.
Question mark
Italian uses the same question mark as English; the intonation rises at the end.
🗨In Conversation
A quale grattacielo ti riferisci?
Which skyscraper are you referring to?
Mi riferisco al Pirelli Tower, vicino a Corso Magenta.
I’m talking about the Pirelli Tower, near Corso Magenta.
✕Common Mistakes
A che grattacielo ti riferisci?
Use *quale* (which) instead of *che* (what) when you need to choose among specific items.
A quale grattacielo ti riferisci a?
The verb *riferirsi* already includes the preposition *a*; adding another *a* creates a redundancy.
A quale grattacielo ti riferisci?
When speaking formally, replace *ti* with *si*.
↔Alternatives
Di quale grattacielo parli?
Which skyscraper are you talking about?
A che edificio ti riferisci?
Which building are you referring to?
Qual è il grattacielo di cui parli?
What is the skyscraper you’re talking about?
Cultural Tip
Italy isn’t known for a skyline of many skyscrapers; the term *grattacielo* is usually reserved for iconic high‑rise structures in cities like Milan (e.g., the Pirelli Tower) or Rome’s modern business districts. When speaking to someone you don’t know well, replace *ti* with the formal *si* (e.g., “A quale grattacielo si riferisce?”).