Italian Phrase
Li chiamo o gli scrivo una mail?
Meaning
The speaker is wondering whether to call the people in question or to send them an email. It’s a quick decision‑making question about the preferred way of contacting someone.
When to use
Use this sentence in informal or semi‑formal contexts when you need to choose between a phone call and an email—e.g., at work, with classmates, or when arranging a meeting.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lichiamoogliscrivounamail
Li (direct object pronoun)
‘Li’ replaces a masculine plural direct object (them) and is placed before the verb.
Chiamo (present tense)
First‑person singular of ‘chiamare’ – ‘I call’.
O (conjunction)
Simple coordinating conjunction meaning ‘or’.
Gli (indirect object pronoun)
‘Gli’ replaces a masculine singular or plural indirect object (to him/her/them) and also precedes the verb.
Scrivo (present tense)
First‑person singular of ‘scrivere’ – ‘I write’.
Una mail (noun phrase)
‘Mail’ is treated as a feminine noun in Italian, so the article is ‘una’.
🗨In Conversation
Li chiamo o gli scrivo una mail?
Do I call them or write them an email?
Se è urgente, chiama; altrimenti, manda una mail.
If it’s urgent, call; otherwise, send an email.
✕Common Mistakes
Lo chiamo o gli scrivo una mail?
‘Lo’ is singular; the correct plural direct object pronoun is ‘li’.
Gli chiamo o gli scrivo una mail?
‘Gli’ is an indirect object pronoun; for a direct object you need ‘li’.
Li chiamo o gli scrivo una e‑mail?
Both are understood, but ‘una mail’ is the colloquial, more natural choice in everyday speech.
↔Alternatives
Li telefono o gli mando una mail?
Do I phone them or send them an email?
Li contatto per telefono o per mail?
Do I contact them by phone or by email?
Preferisci una chiamata o una mail?
Do you prefer a call or an email?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, a quick phone call is often preferred for urgent or personal matters, while email is the default for formal requests, documentation, or when you need a written record. Remember that ‘mail’ (pronounced /mail/) is a borrowed word and is feminine, so you say ‘una mail’. In some regions people still say ‘e‑mail’, but ‘mail’ is now the most common everyday term.