Italian Phrase
Cosa dovrei chiedere?
Meaning
Literally, “What should I ask?” It is used when the speaker is looking for advice about which question to pose in a given situation.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need guidance before an interview, a meeting, a customer‑service call, or any moment where you’re unsure which question will be most useful or appropriate.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cosadovreichiedere?
Cosa
Interrogative pronoun meaning 'what', used to ask about something unknown.
dovrei
First‑person singular conditional of 'dovere' (to have to). It expresses a polite suggestion or recommendation: 'should'.
chiedere
Infinitive verb meaning 'to ask'. In conditional constructions the infinitive follows the modal verb.
Question mark
Italian questions are marked with a trailing question mark; the sentence order stays the same, no inversion is required.
🗨In Conversation
Cosa dovrei chiedere?
What should I ask?
Puoi chiedere informazioni sul prezzo e sulle condizioni di pagamento.
You can ask about the price and the payment terms.
✕Common Mistakes
Cosa devo chiedere?
‘Devo’ is the present indicative (I must) and sounds too strong; the conditional ‘dovrei’ is needed for a polite suggestion.
Cosa dovrei chiedo?
Using the present tense ‘chiedo’ changes the meaning to ‘What do I ask?’ rather than ‘What should I ask?’
Cosa dovrei chiedere
Missing the question mark can make the sentence read as a statement rather than a question.
↔Alternatives
Che cosa dovrei chiedere?
What should I ask?
Quale domanda dovrei fare?
Which question should I ask?
Che domande dovrei porre?
What questions should I pose?
Cultural Tip
In Italian, the conditional form (dovrei) softens a request and makes it sound more polite. It’s common to use this construction when you want advice without sounding demanding. Also, Italians often prefer the longer form “Che cosa …” in formal contexts, while “Cosa …” feels a bit more casual.