Italian · Food & Drink
"What do you recommend?" in Italian: Cosa mi consiglia?
Cosa mi consiglia?
What do you recommend in Italian is Cosa mi consiglia? Formal Lei to staff. With a friend: cosa mi consigli?
Trattoria
Scusi—cosa mi consiglia di primo?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Cosa mi consiglia?
Say it
KOH-zah mee kon-SEE-lyah
/ˈko.za mi konˈsiʎ.ʎa/
Cosa mi consiglia: KOH-zah mee kon-SEE-lyah. Soft gl. Stress SEE.
"What do you recommend?" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Cosa mi consiglia? | What do you recommend? (Lei) Restaurants, shops. | Restaurants, shops. |
| cosa mi consigli? | what do you recommend? (tu) Friends. | Friends. |
| cosa mi consigliate? | what do you recommend? (plural) Addressing staff as a team. | Addressing staff as a team. |
| ha un consiglio? | do you have a suggestion? Softer Lei. | Softer Lei. |
How to use Cosa mi consiglia? in real life
- 1Trattoria
Scusi—cosa mi consiglia di primo?
Excuse me—what do you recommend for a first course?
Food.
- 2Wine list
Cosa mi consiglia con il pesce?
What do you recommend with the fish?
Pairing.
- 3Bookshop
Cosa mi consiglia per iniziare l'italiano?
What do you recommend to start Italian?
Retail.
Mistakes English speakers make with Cosa mi consiglia?
Incorrect: Cosa mi consigli? to a formal waiter without care
Correct: Cosa mi consiglia?
Staff usually get Lei: consiglia.
Incorrect: Cosa raccomanda tu?
Correct: Cosa mi consiglia?
Keep the set polite pattern with mi.
Good to know
Cosa mi consiglia? invites the house specialty and builds rapport with waiters. Listen for del giorno and della casa. Tip culture differs by place—service warmth still matters.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering with a helpful waiter (Lei)
ChatPal
Buonasera—cosa mi consiglia stasera?
Good evening—what do you recommend tonight?
You
Sì—cosa mi consiglia se non mangio carne?
Yes—what do you recommend if I don't eat meat?
ChatPal
Il risotto ai funghi, senza dubbio.
The mushroom risotto, without doubt.
You
Perfetto—prendiamo quello.
Perfect—we'll take that.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"What do you recommend?" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "What do you recommend?" in Italian
Formal staff?
Cosa mi consiglia?
Friend?
Cosa mi consigli?
Plural staff?
Cosa mi consigliate?
Why mi?
Recommend to me.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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