Italian Phrase
Mi consigli qualcosa?
Meaning
Literally, “Do you recommend something to me?” It is a polite, informal way to ask someone for a suggestion—usually about food, a place to visit, a book, or any other choice you’re unsure about.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re in a restaurant, a shop, or chatting with a friend and you want a personal recommendation. It works best in informal contexts; in a formal setting you might say *Mi potrebbe consigliare qualcosa?*
✦Grammar Breakdown
Miconsigliqualcosa?
Mi
Indirect object pronoun (first‑person singular) meaning “to me”. It is placed before the verb in standard Italian.
consigli
Second‑person singular present indicative of the verb *consigliare* (to recommend). The ending –i marks “you (informal) recommend”.
qualcosa
Indefinite pronoun meaning “something”. It can be used with both countable and uncountable ideas.
Question mark
In spoken Italian the intonation rises at the end; in writing the question mark signals that the clause is interrogative.
🗨In Conversation
Mi consigli qualcosa?
Do you recommend anything?
Certo! Prova la carbonara, è la specialità della casa.
Sure! Try the carbonara, it’s the house specialty.
✕Common Mistakes
Mi consigli di qualcosa?
The verb *consigliare* does not take the preposition *di* before the object; the pronoun *mi* already marks the indirect object.
Consigli mi qualcosa?
Pronouns must precede the verb in standard Italian; *mi* should come before *consigli*.
Mi consigli qualcosa?
If you want a formal tone, replace *consigli* with *consiglierebbe* or add *per favore*.
↔Alternatives
Puoi consigliarmi qualcosa?
Can you recommend something to me?
Hai qualche suggerimento?
Do you have any suggestion?
Cosa mi consigli?
What do you recommend?
Cultural Tip
Italians love to share their favorite dishes or local spots, but they also expect a little small talk first. Starting with a friendly greeting (*Ciao, come stai?*) before asking *Mi consigli qualcosa?* makes the request feel more natural. In the north you’ll hear *consigli* more often, while in the south people sometimes use *suggerisci* (from *suggerire*) as a synonym.