How to Ask for More Explanation in Italian: "Puoi spiegarmi meglio?"
Learn intermediate Italian phrases to ask someone to elaborate, clarify or go deeper, without simply asking them to repeat themselves.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
At intermediate level you often understand the individual words but still need the bigger picture. This lesson teaches you how to ask for elaboration in Italian: to request more detail, a clearer explanation or a concrete example. You will learn the difference between asking someone to repeat (which we do not cover here) and asking them to expand, and you will practise polite forms with tu and Lei.
By the end, you can…
- ask someone to elaborate on a point in Italian
- request a clearer explanation or a concrete example
- choose between informal tu and polite Lei forms
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Puoi spiegarmi meglio?
Can you explain it to me better?
PWOH-ee spyeh-GAR-mee MEH-lyoh
Informal tu, singular. Use with friends, family, colleagues you address as tu. The pronoun mi attaches to the infinitive: spiegarmi.
Potrebbe approfondire questo punto?
Could you elaborate on this point?
poh-TREHB-beh ah-proh-fon-DEE-reh KWEH-stoh POON-toh
Polite Lei form, appropriate with strangers, officials, teachers or older people. Approfondire literally means 'to go deeper'.
Non mi è del tutto chiaro. Puoi farmi un esempio?
It's not entirely clear to me. Can you give me an example?
non mee eh del TOOT-toh KYAH-roh. PWOH-ee FAR-mee oon eh-ZHEM-pyoh
Signals partial understanding and asks for a concrete example. Softer than saying 'non ho capito'.
In che senso?
In what sense? / What do you mean by that?
een keh SEN-soh
Short and very common in conversation. It can sound neutral or slightly challenging depending on tone, so use a calm, curious intonation.
Cioè, vuoi dire che...?
So, do you mean that...?
choh-EH, vwoh-ee DEE-reh keh
Cioè is a frequent filler meaning 'that is' or 'so'. Repeating back your interpretation checks understanding before the speaker continues.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is a modal verb plus a verb of explaining: puoi / potrebbe + spiegare, chiarire, approfondire. The person you are asking about goes in the indirect object pronoun: Puoi spiegarmi meglio? (informal) or Potrebbe spiegarmi meglio? (polite). To ask for an example, use fare un esempio: Puoi farmi un esempio? Note that farmi combines fare + mi. For a written or formal context, Potrebbe chiarirmi questo passaggio? works well.
When to use it
Use Puoi spiegarmi meglio? with people you already address as tu. Switch to Potrebbe approfondire questo punto? when the relationship is formal or the setting is professional. In che senso? is best in quick conversation when you need immediate clarification, while Cioè, vuoi dire che...? is useful when you want to check your own interpretation. If you only need the same words again, that is a different request; here you are asking for more content, not repetition.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Scusa, non mi è del tutto chiaro il secondo punto. Puoi spiegarmi meglio?
Sorry, the second point isn't entirely clear to me. Can you explain it better?SKOO-zah, non mee eh del TOOT-toh KYAH-roh eel se-KON-doh POON-toh. PWOH-ee spyeh-GAR-mee MEH-lyohCerto. In pratica, il progetto cambia solo in parte.
Of course. Basically, the project changes only partly.CHER-toh. een PRAH-tee-kah, eel proh-JET-toh KAHM-byah SOH-loh een PAR-tehCioè, vuoi dire che alcune parti restano come prima?
So, do you mean that some parts stay as before?choh-EH, vwoh-ee DEE-reh keh al-KOO-neh PAR-tee REH-stah-noh KOH-meh PREE-mahEsatto. Se vuoi, ti faccio un esempio concreto.
Exactly. If you want, I'll give you a concrete example.eh-ZAHT-toh. seh vwoh-ee, tee FAH-choh oon eh-ZHEM-pyoh kon-KREH-tohA little context goes a long way
Italian has a clear tu/Lei distinction, and it matters when asking for elaboration. With a professor, doctor or official, use the Lei forms potrebbe, mi spieghi, mi chiarisca. Among friends, colleagues of similar age and family, tu forms are normal. In many northern workplaces tu is common even with managers, while in more formal southern or institutional settings Lei may persist longer. When in doubt, start with Lei and let the other person invite you to use tu.
One thing to watch for
Using Puoi ripetere? when you actually want more explanation.
Try this instead: Ripetere means 'to repeat the same words'. For more detail, say Puoi spiegarmi meglio? or Potrebbe approfondire questo punto? Example: Non mi è chiaro il motivo. Puoi spiegarmi meglio?
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are talking to your friend and want a clearer explanation. Which phrase fits?
Show a sample answer
Puoi spiegarmi meglio?
This uses the informal tu form and asks for a better explanation. Potrebbe spiegarmi meglio? would also be correct but is too formal for a friend.
2You are in a meeting with a client you address as Lei. Ask them to elaborate on a point.
Show a sample answer
Potrebbe approfondire questo punto?
The conditional Potrebbe plus approfondire is polite and professional. Potresti approfondire questo punto? is also possible if you already use tu with that client.
3You think you understand but want to check your interpretation. What can you say?
Show a sample answer
Cioè, vuoi dire che...?
This introduces your interpretation and invites confirmation. In che senso? is another valid option, but it asks for meaning rather than checking your own reading.
To ask for more explanation in Italian, move beyond repetition: use Puoi spiegarmi meglio? with tu, Potrebbe approfondire questo punto? with Lei, and Cioè, vuoi dire che...? to check your understanding.
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