Italian for Elementary Learners: Ask 'What is today's special?' and Understand the Description
Learn to ask about today's special in Italian and understand the reply, including key phrases for dishes, prices, and ingredients.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
In this lesson, you will learn how to ask 'What is today's special?' in Italian and understand the description you hear. This skill is different from asking for general recommendations because it focuses on daily offers, which are common in Italian restaurants, bars, and cafes. You will practice the question, common replies, and follow-up questions to clarify ingredients, price, and availability. By the end, you will be able to confidently order today's special.
By the end, you can…
- ask 'What is today's special?' in Italian.
- understand a short description of a daily special, including main ingredients and price.
- ask follow-up questions about the special, such as if it contains meat or how much it costs.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Qual è il piatto del giorno?
What is today's special?
kwahl eh eel PYAHT-toh del JOHR-noh
Standard way to ask about the daily special in a restaurant. Use 'piatto del giorno' for a dish; for a drink special, say 'bevanda del giorno'.
C'è un menù del giorno?
Is there a daily menu?
cheh oon meh-NOO del JOHR-noh
Ask this to find out if there is a fixed-price daily menu, common at lunch.
Cosa c'è come speciale oggi?
What is there as a special today?
KOH-zah cheh KOH-meh speh-CHAH-leh OHD-jee
A more general way to ask about any special offers today, not just a dish.
Il piatto del giorno è...
The dish of the day is...
eel PYAHT-toh del JOHR-noh eh
This is how a server often begins the description. Listen for the name of the dish and key ingredients.
Contiene carne?
Does it contain meat?
kohn-TYEH-neh KAR-neh
Useful if you are vegetarian or have dietary restrictions. For fish, ask 'Contiene pesce?'
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask about today's special, use 'Qual è il piatto del giorno?' or 'C'è un menù del giorno?'. The reply often starts with 'Il piatto del giorno è...' followed by the dish name and ingredients. For example: 'Il piatto del giorno è risotto ai funghi.' (The dish of the day is mushroom risotto.) You can also ask 'Cosa c'è come speciale oggi?' for any special offers. Note that 'del giorno' means 'of the day' and is used for daily offerings.
When to use it
Use these phrases in restaurants, trattorias, or bars during lunch or dinner. Daily specials are often written on a board or told verbally. If you don't understand, ask 'Come si chiama?' (What is it called?) or 'Può ripetere?' (Can you repeat?). For price, ask 'Quanto costa?' (How much does it cost?). If you have dietary needs, ask 'È vegetariano?' (Is it vegetarian?) or 'Contiene glutine?' (Does it contain gluten?).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buongiorno, qual è il piatto del giorno?
Good morning, what is today's special?bwohn-JOHR-noh, kwahl eh eel PYAHT-toh del JOHR-nohOggi il piatto del giorno è pasta al pomodoro e basilico. Costa dodici euro.
Today the dish of the day is pasta with tomato and basil. It costs twelve euros.OHD-jee eel PYAHT-toh del JOHR-noh eh PAHS-tah ahl poh-moh-DOH-roh eh bah-ZEE-lee-koh. KOHS-tah DOH-dee-chee EH-oo-rohContiene carne?
Does it contain meat?kohn-TYEH-neh KAR-nehNo, è vegetariano. Vuole ordinarlo?
No, it is vegetarian. Do you want to order it?noh, eh veh-jeh-tah-RYAH-noh. VWOH-leh ohr-dee-NAR-lohA little context goes a long way
In Italy, daily specials ('piatti del giorno') are often based on fresh market ingredients and may vary by region. In the north, you might hear 'piatto del giorno' with polenta or risotto; in the south, pasta dishes are common. It's polite to ask about the special even if you plan to order something else. Tipping is not customary, but leaving a small amount is appreciated.
One thing to watch for
Asking 'Qual è lo speciale?' as a direct translation of 'What is the special?'
Try this instead: In Italian, 'speciale' as a noun for a dish is less common. Use 'il piatto del giorno' or 'la specialità del giorno'. For example, say 'Qual è il piatto del giorno?' instead of 'Qual è lo speciale?'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'What is today's special?' in Italian?
Show a sample answer
Qual è il piatto del giorno?
This is the standard phrase. You could also say 'Cosa c'è come speciale oggi?' for a more general question.
2The server says: 'Il piatto del giorno è zuppa di verdure. Costa otto euro.' What is the dish and how much does it cost?
Show a sample answer
The dish is vegetable soup, and it costs eight euros.
'Zuppa di verdure' means vegetable soup, and 'costa otto euro' means it costs eight euros. If you didn't understand, you could ask 'Può ripetere?'
3How would you ask if the daily special contains meat?
Show a sample answer
Contiene carne?
This directly asks if it contains meat. For fish, ask 'Contiene pesce?' For gluten, 'Contiene glutine?'
Remember to ask 'Qual è il piatto del giorno?' to find out today's special, and listen for the dish name and price. Use follow-up questions like 'Contiene carne?' to clarify ingredients.
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