Italian Phrase
Cosa ci fai qui?
Meaning
Literally, ‘What do you do here?’ It is the everyday way to ask someone why they are present in a place where they are not expected. The tone can range from curious and friendly to mildly confrontational, depending on the speaker’s intonation and relationship with the listener.
When to use
Use it in informal settings—among friends, classmates, coworkers, or anyone you address with ‘tu’. It works well when you’re surprised to see someone, want to know their purpose, or want to start a light‑hearted conversation about their presence.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cosacifaiqui?
Cosa (interrogative pronoun)
Used to ask 'what' in a neutral, open‑ended question.
ci (locative clitic)
A short pronoun that means 'here' or 'in this place' and is placed before the verb.
fai (fare, 2nd person singular)
Present‑tense form of the verb ‘fare’ (to do / to make) used with ‘tu’ (you).
qui (adverb of place)
Means ‘here’; it reinforces the locative meaning already carried by the clitic ‘ci’.
🗨In Conversation
Cosa ci fai qui?
What are you doing here?
Sono venuto a prendere il libro che mi hai promesso.
I came to pick up the book you promised me.
✕Common Mistakes
Cosa mi fai qui?
‘mi’ means ‘to me’, not a locative pronoun. It changes the meaning to ‘What do you do to me here?’
Cosa ci fai dove?
‘dove’ already asks for location, so adding ‘qui’ creates redundancy and sounds unnatural.
Cosa ci fa qui?
The verb must agree with ‘tu’; ‘fa’ is third‑person singular.
↔Alternatives
Che ci fai qui?
What are you doing here?
Cosa stai facendo qui?
What are you doing here?
Che cosa fai qui?
What are you doing here?
Perché sei qui?
Why are you here?
Cultural Tip
Italians are comfortable with direct questions, especially among peers. ‘Cosa ci fai qui?’ can sound playful if said with a smile, but a harsh tone may be perceived as rude. In the south, you’ll hear the shorter ‘Che ci fai?’ more often, while in the north speakers sometimes add ‘davvero’ for extra emphasis: ‘Cosa ci fai davvero qui?’