Italian for Seeking Advice: Asking 'What would you do?' or 'Any advice?'
Learn to ask for opinions and advice in Italian using 'Cosa faresti?' and 'Hai qualche consiglio?', and explain your situation without requesting a favor.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
When you want someone's opinion or guidance rather than a favor, Italian offers specific phrases. This lesson teaches you to ask 'What would you do?' (Cosa faresti?) and 'Any advice?' (Hai qualche consiglio?) in a natural, polite way. You'll also learn to describe your situation so others can give informed advice. We'll focus on the conditional tense for hypothetical questions and common expressions for seeking opinions. By the end, you'll be able to handle conversations where you need advice, not a favor.
By the end, you can…
- ask for advice using 'Cosa faresti?' and 'Hai qualche consiglio?'.
- explain a personal situation in simple Italian.
- distinguish between asking for a favor and asking for advice.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Cosa faresti?
What would you do?
KOH-zah fah-REHS-tee
Use this to ask for someone's hypothetical opinion. It's informal (tu form). For formal, use 'Cosa farebbe?'.
Hai qualche consiglio?
Do you have any advice?
AH-ee KWAHL-keh kohn-SEE-lyoh
Direct way to ask for advice. 'Qualche' means 'any' and is always followed by a singular noun.
Cosa mi consigli?
What do you advise me?
KOH-zah mee kohn-SEE-lyee
Asks for a recommendation. The verb 'consigliare' means 'to advise'. Informal tu form.
Ho un problema e non so cosa fare.
I have a problem and I don't know what to do.
oh oon proh-BLEH-mah eh nohn soh KOH-zah FAH-reh
Use this to introduce your situation. 'Problema' is masculine despite ending in -a.
Secondo te, è meglio...?
In your opinion, is it better to...?
seh-KOHN-doh teh, eh MEH-lyoh...
Asks for an opinion. 'Secondo te' means 'according to you'. For formal, 'Secondo Lei'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask 'What would you do?', use the conditional tense of 'fare' (to do): 'Cosa faresti?' (informal) or 'Cosa farebbe?' (formal). The conditional expresses hypothetical situations. You can also use 'Cosa mi consigli?' (What do you advise me?) or 'Hai qualche consiglio?' (Do you have any advice?). To explain your situation, start with 'Ho un problema...' or 'Mi trovo in una situazione...' (I'm in a situation...). For example: 'Ho un problema con il mio capo. Cosa mi consigli?' (I have a problem with my boss. What do you advise me?).
When to use it
Use these phrases when you want someone's opinion or guidance, not a favor. Asking for a favor involves requesting an action ('Puoi aiutarmi?' - Can you help me?), while seeking advice asks for thoughts ('Cosa faresti?' - What would you do?). For example, if you're unsure about a decision, say 'Non so se accettare il lavoro. Cosa faresti?' (I don't know whether to accept the job. What would you do?). If you want suggestions, say 'Hai qualche consiglio per migliorare il mio italiano?' (Do you have any advice for improving my Italian?).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Ciao, ho un problema. Il mio ragazzo vuole trasferirsi all'estero, ma io non so se andare con lui. Cosa faresti?
Hi, I have a problem. My boyfriend wants to move abroad, but I don't know if I should go with him. What would you do?CHOW, oh oon proh-BLEH-mah. eel MEE-oh rah-GAH-tsoh VWOH-leh trahz-feh-REER-see ahl-EHS-teh-roh, mah EE-oh nohn soh seh ahn-DAH-reh kohn LOO-ee. KOH-zah fah-REHS-tee?Capisco. È una decisione difficile. Cosa mi consigli?
I understand. It's a difficult decision. What do you advise me?kah-PEES-koh. eh OO-nah deh-chee-ZYOH-neh dee-FEE-chee-leh. AH-ee KWAHL-keh kohn-SEE-lyoh dah DAHR-mee?Beh, secondo me dovresti parlare con lui e capire quanto è importante per te. Hai qualche consiglio da darmi?
Well, in my opinion you should talk to him and understand how important it is for you. Do you have any advice to give me?beh, seh-KOHN-doh meh doh-VREHS-tee par-LAH-reh kohn LOO-ee eh kah-PEE-reh KWAHN-toh eh eem-por-TAHN-teh per teh. KOH-zah mee kohn-SEE-lyee?Grazie. Penso che parlerò con lui. È un buon consiglio.
Thank you. I think I'll talk to him. It's good advice.GRAH-tsyeh. PEHN-soh keh par-leh-ROH kohn LOO-ee. eh oon bwohn kohn-SEE-lyoh.A little context goes a long way
In Italian, asking for advice often involves a more indirect tone than in English. Using the conditional ('Cosa faresti?') softens the request. Also, 'consiglio' is a noun meaning 'advice' (countable in Italian: un consiglio, due consigli), unlike English 'advice' which is uncountable. When speaking to someone older or in a formal context, use the formal 'Lei' form: 'Cosa farebbe?' and 'Ha qualche consiglio?'. In some regions you might hear 'Che mi consigli?' instead of 'Cosa mi consigli?', but both are understood.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Cosa fai?' (What do you do?) instead of 'Cosa faresti?' (What would you do?) when seeking advice.
Try this instead: 'Cosa fai?' asks about a current action or habit, not a hypothetical opinion. For advice, use the conditional: 'Cosa faresti?' For example, 'Cosa fai stasera?' means 'What are you doing tonight?', while 'Cosa faresti al mio posto?' means 'What would you do in my place?'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'What would you do?' informally in Italian?
Show a sample answer
Cosa faresti?
This uses the conditional tense of 'fare' (to do) in the tu form. For formal, you would say 'Cosa farebbe?'.
2Translate: 'I have a problem and I don't know what to do.'
Show a sample answer
Ho un problema e non so cosa fare.
This sentence introduces your situation. 'Problema' is masculine, and 'cosa fare' means 'what to do'. You could also say 'non so che fare', which is equally correct.
3What is the difference between asking for a favor and asking for advice in Italian?
Show a sample answer
Asking for a favor requests an action (e.g., 'Puoi aiutarmi?' - Can you help me?), while asking for advice seeks an opinion (e.g., 'Cosa mi consigli?' - What do you advise me?).
Favors involve someone doing something for you; advice involves sharing thoughts. Both are valid, but the phrases differ.
To seek advice in Italian, use 'Cosa faresti?' or 'Hai qualche consiglio?' and explain your situation with 'Ho un problema...'. Remember to use the conditional for hypothetical questions and the formal Lei form when appropriate.
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