🗣️🙋❓

How to Say ‘Tell me a little about yourself’ in Italian

Mi parli un po' di Lei

mee PAHR-lee oon poh dee LAY

[mee PAHR-lee oon poh dee LAY]

💬 Usage Tip: Lei with a capital L is the polite "you", even though it looks like "she". That's why parli here is a polite request, not "you speak".

Phrase Breakdown

Mi parli

mee PAHR-lee

Tell me / speak to me

This is the formal command of 'parlare' (to speak), meaning 'tell me'. Stress PAR.

Example

Mi parli del progetto.

Tell me about the project.

Words in this phrase

[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'. Say it smoothly: un-po-di-LAY.

Example

Vorrei sapere un po' di Lei.

I'd like to know a bit about you.

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

Duolingo vs Busuu: Which Is Better for Actually Improving?Duolingo vs Busuu compared: a free gamified habit versus structured levels with corrections from native speakers. Which to choose, and when to use both.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Spent the summer in Tuscany researching Italian cuisine. Being able to chat with nonnas at the market about recipes? Absolutely priceless.”

Grace P., 34, Food Writer

“Working on a project in Milan and needed professional Italian fast. The business roleplays gave me the confidence to present to clients within a month.”

Daniel F., 45, Architect

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer