Italian Phrase
Parlo con la signora Davis?
Meaning
Literally, ‘Am I speaking with Mrs. Davis?’ It is a polite way to confirm you have reached the right person on the phone or in a hallway, using a formal title.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to verify the identity of a woman you are trying to reach, especially in formal or professional contexts such as phone calls, reception desks, or when entering a private office.
✦Grammar Breakdown
ParloconlasignoraDavis
Parlare (present)
‘Parlo’ is the first‑person singular present of ‘parlare’, meaning ‘I speak’ or ‘I am speaking’.
Con + person
The preposition ‘con’ (with) is used when you are speaking *with* someone, not ‘a’ which would mean ‘to’.
Definite article with titles
Italian normally uses the definite article before titles (la signora, il signor) when addressing or referring to a person.
Question intonation
Raising the pitch at the end of the sentence turns a statement into a yes/no question; no extra word order change is needed.
🗨In Conversation
Parlo con la signora Davis?
Am I speaking with Mrs. Davis?
Sì, sono io.
Yes, that's me.
✕Common Mistakes
Parlo a la signora Davis?
‘Parlo a’ means ‘I speak to’, which is less natural when you want to confirm you’re talking *with* someone.
Parlo con il signor Davis?
‘Signor’ is the masculine form; using it for a woman is incorrect.
Parlo con signora Davis?
Dropping the article ‘la’ sounds informal and can be perceived as abrupt.
↔Alternatives
Posso parlare con la signora Davis?
May I speak with Mrs. Davis?
È la signora Davis?
Is this Mrs. Davis?
Parlo con la signorina Davis?
Am I speaking with Miss Davis?
Cultural Tip
In Italian, using a title plus the definite article (la signora, il signor) signals respect. ‘Signora’ is used for married or older women; for younger, unmarried women you would say ‘signorina’. When speaking on the phone, it’s common to start with the title before the name to avoid any ambiguity.