Italian Phrase
Cosa speri di ottenere?
Meaning
Literally, 'What do you hope to obtain?', it asks the listener about the result or goal they are wishing for. It can refer to material things, personal achievements, or abstract outcomes.
When to use
Use this question when you want to know someone's aspirations, goals for a project, or what they are looking forward to achieving. It works well in both casual chats and more formal interviews.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cosasperidiottenere?
Cosa
Interrogative pronoun meaning 'what', used to ask about an object or idea.
speri
Second‑person singular present subjunctive of 'sperare' (to hope). The subjunctive is required after 'cosa' when asking about hopes or wishes.
di + infinitive
The verb 'sperare' is followed by the preposition 'di' and an infinitive verb to express what is hoped for.
ottenere
Infinitive meaning 'to obtain, to achieve, to get'.
🗨In Conversation
Cosa speri di ottenere dal tuo nuovo lavoro?
What do you hope to achieve from your new job?
Spero di crescere professionalmente e di imparare nuove competenze.
I hope to grow professionally and learn new skills.
✕Common Mistakes
Cosa speri ottenere?
Missing the required preposition 'di' after 'sperare'.
Cosa speri di ottengo?
The infinitive must stay in its base form; do not conjugate it.
Cosa speri di ottieni?
After 'di' you need the infinitive, not a conjugated verb.
↔Alternatives
Che cosa speri di ottenere?
What do you hope to obtain?
Cosa ti piacerebbe ottenere?
What would you like to obtain?
Qual è il tuo obiettivo?
What is your goal?
Cultural Tip
In Italian, 'sperare' is almost always followed by 'di' + infinitive. Dropping the preposition (e.g., *speri ottenere*) sounds ungrammatical. Also, Italians often soften direct questions with 'che' (Che cosa…) especially in formal contexts, but the shorter 'Cosa' is perfectly natural in everyday conversation.