Italian Phrase
Cosa stai guardando?
Meaning
This phrase uses the Italian present continuous construction to ask about an action currently in progress. It specifically refers to the act of looking at or watching something, such as a movie, a television show, or a curious event on the street.
When to use
Use this phrase when you see someone focused on a screen, a book, or a specific object and you want to join the conversation or satisfy your curiosity. It is perfect for casual settings with friends, family, or colleagues.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cosastaiguardando
Cosa
An interrogative pronoun meaning 'what'. It is often shortened from 'che cosa'.
Stare (stai)
The verb 'stare' acts as an auxiliary verb here to form the continuous tense in the second person singular.
Guardando
The gerund of 'guardare' (to watch). In Italian, -are verbs form the gerund by adding -ando to the root.
🗨In Conversation
Cosa stai guardando?
What are you watching?
Sto guardando un film di Fellini.
I am watching a Fellini movie.
✕Common Mistakes
Cosa sei guardando?
In Italian, the continuous tense is formed with 'stare', not 'essere'.
Cosa stai guarda?
You must use the gerund form 'guardando' after 'stare' to indicate an ongoing action.
↔Alternatives
Che guardi?
What are you looking at? (Informal)
Che cosa stai guardando?
What is it that you are watching? (More formal/emphatic)
Cosa guardi di bello?
What nice thing are you watching?
Cultural Tip
Italians are generally very social and asking what someone is watching is a common icebreaker. Using the 'stare + gerund' construction is the most natural way to sound like a native when describing actions happening right at this moment.