chiedere

to ask

verb KYEH-deh-reh Common

Origin: Latin quaerere (to seek, ask)

Also means

to request

Usage Note

Chiedere is irregular in the past participle: chiesto (not chieduto). It takes avere as auxiliary: ho chiesto. Use chiedere for asking a question or making a request; use domandare as a near-synonym. Chiedere di + person means 'to ask after someone': ha chiesto di te (he/she asked about you).

Examples

"Posso chiederti un favore?"

Natural Translation

Can I ask you a favour?

Literal Translation

Can I ask-you a favour?

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Days & Months in Italian: A Beginner's Guide

Days of the week in Italian are lowercase, all masculine except la domenica, and il lunedì means every Monday. Learn the days, months, dates, and seasons.

June 5, 2026 4 min read

ItalianNow

Italian False Friends: 20 Words That Trick You

Italian false friends like preservativo, parenti, and caldo mean the opposite of what English speakers expect. Here are 20 ranked by how badly they bite.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Tu vs Lei: Formal & Informal "You" in Italian

When in doubt, use Lei. Here's exactly when to use tu vs Lei in Italian — the who-to-use-with map, the verb and possessive shifts, and how to switch politely.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Dialects vs Standard Italian: A Guide

Standard Italian works everywhere, so relax: this three-layer guide to Italian dialects vs standard Italian shows what to ignore and what to notice.

June 9, 2026 6 min read