How to Say ‘I'd like a coffee, please.’ in Italian
Vorrei un caffè, per favore.
vohr-RAY-ee oon kahf-FEH pehr fah-VOH-reh
[vohr-RAY-ee oon kahf-FEH pehr fah-VOH-reh]
💬 Usage Tip: [Vorrei] makes the request sound polite and less direct than [voglio]. You can swap in the thing you want: [Vorrei un espresso] or [Vorrei un latte macchiato].
Phrase Breakdown
Vorrei
[vohr-RAY-ee]
I would like
A very natural and polite way to begin an order in Italian.
Quando ordino, inizio con «Vorrei» per essere educato.
When I order, I begin with “I would like” to be polite.
Un caffè
oon kahf-FEH
a coffee
The object being requested: an espresso-style coffee.
Vorrei un caffè.
I would like a coffee.
Words in this phrase
un
[oon]
a / an
Masculine singular indefinite article used with caffè.
Chiedo «un» espresso dopo pranzo.
I ask for “an” espresso after lunch.
caffè
[kahf-FEH]
coffee
In a bar, caffè normally means espresso unless you specify another style.
In molti bar «caffè» significa espresso.
In many cafés, “coffee” means espresso.
Per favore
pehr fah-VOH-reh
please
Polite phrase added to make a request courteous.
Un bicchiere d'acqua, per favore.
A glass of water, please.
Words in this phrase
per
[pehr]
please / for
Part of the polite expression per favore, used when requesting something.
Dico «per» favore alla fine della frase.
I say “please” at the end of the sentence.
favore
[fah-VOH-reh]
favor
Completes the phrase per favore, a standard polite expression meaning please.
La parola «favore» rende la richiesta più cortese.
The word “favor” makes the request more courteous.
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