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How to Say ‘What figure did you have in mind?’ in Italian

Quale cifra aveva in mente?

KWAH-leh CHEE-frah ah-VEH-vah een MEN-teh

[KWAH-leh CHEE-frah ah-VEH-vah een MEN-teh]

💬 Usage Tip: aveva is a past form used to make the question gentler, much like English "did you have". In the same way, volevo "I wanted" softens a request.

Phrase Breakdown

Quale cifra

KWAH-leh CHEE-frah

What figure / amount

'Cifra' means a sum of money here. Pronounce it CI-fra, with a 'ch' sound.

Example

Quale cifra preferisce?

What amount do you prefer?

Words in this phrase

Quale

[KWAH-leh]

which

Question word used to ask which one among options.

Example

Quale tavolo preferisce?

Which table do you prefer?

cifra

[CHEE-frah]

figure, amount

Feminine noun: a sum of money or a digit.

Example

È una cifra importante.

It's a significant amount.

aveva in mente?

ah-VEH-vah een MEN-teh

did you have in mind?

Formal imperfect of 'avere'. Let your voice rise at the end of the question.

Example

Che cosa aveva in mente?

What did you have in mind?

Words in this phrase

aveva

[ah-VEH-vah]

you had (formal)

Imperfect of 'avere', formal 'Lei' or he/she.

Example

Aveva un'idea precisa.

You had a precise idea.

[een]

Preposition used to indicate being inside or part of a place or organization.

Example

Uso "in" quando parlo del lavoro in un'organizzazione.

I use "in" when I talk about working in an organization.

mente

[MEN-teh]

mind

Feminine noun; 'avere in mente' means to have in mind.

Example

Ho in mente un piano.

I have a plan in mind.

Guides for Italian learners

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