Italian Phrase
Ci serve un seggiolino rialzato.
Meaning
The sentence literally means ‘We need a raised seat.’ It is the standard way to ask for a booster seat for a child, especially in restaurants or when traveling.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are at a restaurant, café, or any public place and you need a high‑chair or booster seat for a child. It can also be used at home or in a car rental context when a raised seat is required.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ciserveunseggiolinorialzato
Ci (indirect object pronoun)
‘Ci’ is an indirect object pronoun meaning ‘to us/for us’; with ‘servire’ it creates an impersonal construction indicating a need.
Serve (impersonal verb)
‘Serve’ is the third‑person singular of ‘servire’ used impersonally, equivalent to ‘is needed’ in English.
Un (indefinite article)
The masculine singular indefinite article used before a noun that is not previously known to the listener.
Seggiolino (diminutive noun)
A diminutive of ‘seggio’, meaning a small or child’s seat; often refers to a booster or high chair.
Rialzato (past participle as adjective)
‘Rialzato’ comes from ‘rialzare’ and works as an adjective meaning ‘raised’ or ‘elevated’.
🗨In Conversation
Ci serve un seggiolino rialzato per il bambino.
We need a booster seat for the child.
Certo, ne ho uno in macchina.
Sure, I have one in the car.
✕Common Mistakes
Ci serviamo un seggiolino rialzato.
‘Serviamo’ is first‑person plural and changes the meaning to ‘we serve’, not ‘we need’. Use ‘serve’ for the impersonal ‘is needed’.
Ci serve un seggiolino alzato.
‘Alzato’ is not idiomatic here; the correct adjective is ‘rialzato’.
↔Alternatives
Abbiamo bisogno di un seggiolino rialzato.
We need a raised seat.
Ci occorre un seggiolino rialzato.
We require a raised seat.
Serve un seggiolino per bambini.
A child’s seat is needed.
Cultural Tip
In Italy most family‑friendly restaurants keep a few ‘seggiolini rialzati’ (booster seats) behind the bar. It’s considered polite to ask for one before the staff brings the menu. In the north, you’ll also hear the term ‘sedia per bambini’ used interchangeably.