How to Say ‘I wanted to ask something.’ in Italian
Volevo chiedere una cosa.
voh-LEH-voh kee-EH-deh-reh OO-nah KOH-zah
[voh-LEH-voh kee-EH-deh-reh OO-nah KOH-zah]
🇮🇹 In Italy: Using [volevo] here sounds softer than a blunt present-tense request. Italians often use this kind of phrasing to ease into a question politely.
Phrase Breakdown
Volevo
[voh-LEH-voh]
I wanted
A polite, softened way to introduce a request or question, very common in Italian.
Prima della domanda dico: «Volevo chiedere una cosa».
Before the question I say: “I wanted to ask something.”
chiedere
[kee-EH-deh-reh]
to ask
Used when introducing a question or requesting information.
Se ho un dubbio, dico: «Volevo chiedere una cosa».
If I have a doubt, I say: “I wanted to ask something.”
una
[OO-nah]
a / one
Feminine singular indefinite article used before feminine nouns.
Per introdurre una domanda, dico: «Volevo chiedere una cosa».
To introduce a question, I say: “I wanted to ask something.”
cosa
[KOH-zah]
thing
Often used broadly to mean “something” or “a question” in conversation.
Se mi serve un'informazione, dico: «Volevo chiedere una cosa».
If I need information, I say: “I wanted to ask something.”
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