How to Ask for More Towels in Italian: Requesting Amenities at Your Hotel
Learn to ask for extra towels in Italian using 'Potrei avere due asciugamani in più?' and understand the response about delivery.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you need extra towels in an Italian hotel, you can use a polite question with 'potrei' (could I). This lesson teaches you to ask for two more towels, understand how many you are offered, and know when they will arrive. You will also learn to say 'grazie' and confirm the number. The phrases work in standard Italian and are understood throughout Italy.
By the end, you can…
- ask for two more towels politely in Italian.
- understand a housekeeper's reply about how many towels and when they will be delivered.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Potrei avere due asciugamani in più?
Could I have two more towels?
poh-TREH-ee ah-VEH-reh DOO-eh ah-shoo-gah-MAH-nee een pyoo
Standard polite request. Use 'potrei' (could I) for softness. 'Asciugamani' is the plural of 'asciugamano' (towel).
Mi servono due asciugamani puliti.
I need two clean towels.
mee SEHR-voh-noh DOO-eh ah-shoo-gah-MAH-nee poo-LEE-tee
Direct but still polite. 'Servono' agrees with the plural 'due asciugamani'. Use when you need to state a need clearly.
Quanti asciugamani mi può portare?
How many towels can you bring me?
KWAHN-tee ah-shoo-gah-MAH-nee mee pwoh por-TAH-reh
Use this to ask about quantity. 'Può' is the polite third-person form for 'you can'.
Quando li portate?
When will you bring them?
KWAHN-doh lee por-TAH-teh
Ask about timing. 'Li' means 'them' (masculine plural) and refers to 'asciugamani'.
Grazie, aspetto qui.
Thank you, I'll wait here.
GRAH-tsee-eh, ah-SPEH-toh kwee
Use to confirm you will wait. 'Aspetto' means 'I wait'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask for more of something politely, use 'Potrei avere' + number + item + 'in più?' For example: 'Potrei avere due asciugamani in più?' (Could I have two more towels?). You can replace 'due' with other numbers: 'tre' (three), 'quattro' (four). The item stays plural: 'asciugamani'. If you need just one, say 'un asciugamano in più' (one more towel). The pattern works for other amenities: 'Potrei avere due cuscini in più?' (Could I have two more pillows?).
When to use it
Use 'Potrei avere...' when you want to be polite, especially with hotel staff you do not know. It is softer than 'Voglio' (I want) or 'Dammi' (give me), which can sound rude. If you are speaking to housekeeping in a friendly context, 'Mi servono due asciugamani puliti' is also fine. When you ask 'Quanti asciugamani mi può portare?', you may hear a number in reply, such as 'Due' or 'Tre'. To ask when, use 'Quando li portate?' and listen for 'subito' (right away) or 'tra dieci minuti' (in ten minutes).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buongiorno, potrei avere due asciugamani in più?
Good morning, could I have two more towels?bwohn-JOHR-noh, poh-TREH-ee ah-VEH-reh DOO-eh ah-shoo-gah-MAH-nee een pyooCerto. Quanti ne vuole?
Of course. How many do you want?CHEHR-toh. KWAHN-tee neh VWOH-lehDue, per favore. Quando li portate?
Two, please. When will you bring them?DOO-eh, pehr fah-VOH-reh. KWAHN-doh lee por-TAH-tehLi porto subito. Grazie.
I'll bring them right away. Thank you.lee POR-toh SOO-bee-toh. GRAH-tsee-ehA little context goes a long way
In Italy, hotel housekeeping is usually helpful, and it is polite to use 'potrei' or 'per favore'. Tipping is not expected for towel delivery, though a small tip is appreciated in some upscale hotels. The standard pronunciation of 'asciugamani' uses a clear 'sh' sound (ah-shoo-gah-MAH-nee) everywhere in Italy; regional accents vary in many ways, but this word is not a reliable north/south marker. Always say 'grazie' when receiving the towels.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Voglio due asciugamani' (I want two towels) directly.
Try this instead: Use 'Potrei avere due asciugamani in più?' or 'Mi servono due asciugamani' instead. 'Voglio' can sound demanding. For example, say 'Potrei avere due asciugamani, per favore?' to be polite.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Could I have two more towels?' in Italian?
Show a sample answer
Potrei avere due asciugamani in più?
This uses the polite conditional 'potrei' and the phrase 'in più' for 'more'. You could also say 'Potrei avere due asciugamani, per favore?' which is equally correct.
2What does 'Quando li portate?' mean?
Show a sample answer
When will you bring them?
'Quando' means 'when', 'li' means 'them' (masculine plural), and 'portate' means 'you bring'. This question asks about delivery time.
3If the housekeeper says 'Li porto subito', what will happen?
Show a sample answer
They will bring the towels right away.
'Subito' means 'right away' or 'immediately'. So the towels will arrive very soon. You can reply 'Grazie'.
Use 'Potrei avere due asciugamani in più?' to politely ask for extra towels. Listen for numbers and 'subito' to know when they will arrive. Always add 'per favore' and 'grazie'.
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