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How to Say ‘So, tell me a bit about yourself.’ in Italian

Allora, mi parli un po' di Lei.

ahl-LOH-rah mee PAHR-lee oon poh dee LAY

[ahl-LOH-rah mee PAHR-lee oon poh dee LAY]

🇮🇹 In Italy: This is the classic opening question in an Italian interview. Have a short answer ready covering your age, where you're from, where you live and what you do now.

Phrase Breakdown

Allora, mi parli

ahl-LOH-rah mee PAHR-lee

So, tell me

'Allora' means 'so' or 'well then', a common way to open a topic. Hold the double 'll': al-LO-ra.

Example

Allora, mi parli del suo lavoro.

So, tell me about your job.

Words in this phrase

Allora

[ahl-LOH-rah]

so; well

Filler word used to open or resume a topic.

Example

Allora, cominciamo.

So, let's begin.

[mee]

to me

Indirect object pronoun meaning to me; used to express personal reaction.

Example

Nella frase Mi fa piacere, Mi indica la persona che prova la sensazione.

In the phrase 'Mi fa piacere,' 'Mi' indicates the person feeling the emotion.

parli

[PAHR-lee]

speak / tell (formal command)

Formal imperative of parlare, used to politely ask someone to talk.

Example

Mi parli del suo lavoro.

Tell me about your job.

un po' di Lei.

oon poh dee LAY

a bit about yourself

'Un po'' means 'a little'. 'Lei' is the formal 'you', used in interviews.

Example

Mi racconti un po' di Lei.

Tell me a bit about yourself.

Words in this phrase

[oon]

Indefinite article used before a masculine singular noun.

Example

In Un buon equilibrio, Un introduce l'idea di un balance positivo.

In 'Un buon equilibrio,' 'Un' introduces the idea of a positive balance.

po'

[poh]

bit, little

Short form of 'poco'; with 'un' it means 'a little'.

Example

Sono un po' stanco.

I'm a little tired.

[dee]

Preposition linking nouns, often translated as of.

Example

Che tipo di ruolo è disponibile?

What kind of role is available?

Lei

[LAY]

you (formal)

Polite form of 'you', used with strangers like customers or staff.

Example

Questo è per lei.

This is for you.

Guides for Italian learners

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