How to Say ‘If possible, we'd prefer a table outside’ in Italian
Se fosse possibile, preferiremmo un tavolo all'aperto
seh FOS-seh pohs-SEE-bee-leh preh-feh-ree-REM-moh oon TAH-vo-lo ahl' ah-PER-toh
[seh FOS-seh pohs-SEE-bee-leh preh-feh-ree-REM-moh oon TAH-vo-lo ahl' ah-PER-toh]
🇮🇹 In Italy: Outdoor tables are prized in good weather and often go first. Asking at booking is wise, but expect it to be a preference rather than a promise.
Phrase Breakdown
Se fosse possibile,
seh FOS-seh pohs-SEE-bee-leh
If it were possible,
A polite opener with the subjunctive 'fosse'. Pause briefly at the comma.
Se fosse possibile, arriveremmo alle otto.
If possible, we'd arrive at eight.
Words in this phrase
Se
[seh]
if
A conjunction meaning 'if,' used to introduce a condition politely.
Se vuoi, possiamo sentirci la prossima settimana.
If you want, we can talk next week.
fosse
[FOS-seh]
were / was
Imperfect subjunctive of 'essere'; after 'pensavo' it helps express 'I thought it was'.
Temevo che Fosse troppo tardi.
I was afraid that it was too late.
possibile
[pohs-SEE-bee-leh]
possible
Adjective meaning able to be done.
È possibile pagare con carta?
Is it possible to pay by card?
preferiremmo
[preh-feh-ree-REM-moh]
we would prefer
Conditional 'noi' form of 'preferire', polite request.
Preferiremmo il vino rosso.
We would prefer red wine.
un tavolo all'aperto
oon TAH-vo-lo ahl' ah-PER-toh
a table outdoors
Keep the article with its noun: 'un TAvolo allaPERto'.
Abbiamo prenotato un tavolo all'aperto.
We booked a table outside.
Words in this phrase
un
[oon]
a
Indefinite article used before a masculine singular noun.
In Un buon equilibrio, Un introduce l'idea di un balance positivo.
In 'Un buon equilibrio,' 'Un' introduces the idea of a positive balance.
tavolo
[TAH-vo-lo]
Table
A piece of furniture with a flat top and one or more legs used for various purposes.
Cerco un tavolo nel ristorante.
I'm looking for a table in the restaurant.
all'
[ahl']
To the
Indicating a direction or focus towards.
All'ultimo arrivato spesso vengono chieste molte domande.
The last to arrive often gets asked many questions.
aperto
[ah-PER-toh]
open air (in 'all'aperto')
In 'all'aperto' it means outdoors.
Mangiamo all'aperto.
Let's eat outdoors.
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