How to Suggest Ideas in Italian: 'How About a Movie?' and 'We Could Go for a Walk'
Learn beginner Italian ways to propose ideas with 'Che ne dici di...' and 'Potremmo...', plus the friendly invitation 'Andiamo a...'.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In Italian, suggesting something to do is often softer than making a plan. Instead of fixing a time and place, you float an idea and let the other person react. This lesson teaches three beginner-friendly tools: 'Che ne dici di...?' (How about...?), 'Potremmo...' (We could...), and 'Andiamo a...' (Let's go to...). You will use them to suggest a movie, a walk, a coffee, or a pizza without sounding pushy.
By the end, you can…
- suggest an activity in Italian using 'Che ne dici di...?' and 'Potremmo...'
- invite someone with 'Andiamo a...' and respond to a suggestion politely
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Che ne dici di un film?
How about a movie?
keh neh DEE-chee dee oon FEELM
Very common, friendly way to suggest one idea. Use 'dici' with one person you know; use 'Che ne dite di...?' with a group.
Potremmo fare una passeggiata.
We could go for a walk.
poh-TREHM-moh FAH-reh OO-nah pahs-seh-JAH-tah
'Potremmo' is the noi form of the conditional of 'potere'. It sounds gentle, like an option, not a command.
Andiamo a prendere un caffè?
Let's go get a coffee?
ahn-DYAH-moh ah PREHN-deh-reh oon kahf-FEH
'Andiamo a...' is a direct but friendly invitation. The question mark softens it.
Ti va di uscire stasera?
Do you feel like going out tonight?
tee vah dee oo-SHEE-reh stah-SEH-rah
'Ti va di...?' is a natural, informal way to ask if someone is up for something. Use 'Le va di...?' in formal speech.
Perché non andiamo al cinema?
Why don't we go to the cinema?
pehr-KEH non ahn-DYAH-moh ahl CHEE-neh-mah
'Perché non...?' works like English 'Why don't we...?' and introduces a suggestion, not a real question about a reason.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
For suggestions, Italian often uses 'Che ne dici di + noun or infinitive': 'Che ne dici di un film?' (How about a movie?), 'Che ne dici di andare al cinema?' (How about going to the cinema?). With more than one person, change 'dici' to 'dite': 'Che ne dite di una pizza?' Another pattern is 'Potremmo + infinitive': 'Potremmo vedere un film' (We could watch a movie), 'Potremmo fare una passeggiata' (We could go for a walk). 'Potremmo' is the noi form of the conditional, so it presents the idea as a possibility, not a decision.
When to use it
Use 'Che ne dici di...?' when you want to offer one specific idea and check the other person's reaction. Use 'Potremmo...' when you want to sound tentative or when you are thinking aloud about options. Use 'Andiamo a...' when you are ready to move and want to invite someone directly: 'Andiamo a vedere un film?' For a very casual invitation, 'Ti va di...?' is common: 'Ti va di fare una passeggiata?' If you are talking to someone older, a stranger, or in a formal situation, use the formal 'Lei' forms: 'Le va di...?' and 'Che ne dice di...?'
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Che ne dici di un film stasera?
How about a movie tonight?keh neh DEE-chee dee oon FEELM stah-SEH-rahVolentieri! Però potremmo anche fare una passeggiata prima.
Gladly! But we could also go for a walk first.voh-lehn-TYEH-ree peh-ROH poh-TREHM-moh ahn-KEH FAH-reh OO-nah pahs-seh-JAH-tah PREE-mahBuona idea. Andiamo a prendere un caffè e poi decidiamo.
Good idea. Let's go get a coffee and then we'll decide.BWOH-nah ee-DEH-ah ahn-DYAH-moh ah PREHN-deh-reh oon kahf-FEH eh poy deh-chee-DYAH-mohPerfetto, ti va di uscire verso le sei?
Perfect, do you feel like going out around six?pehr-FEHT-toh tee vah dee oo-SHEE-reh VEHR-soh leh SAYA little context goes a long way
In Italian, suggestions are often softened with a question or a conditional. 'Che ne dici di...?' and 'Potremmo...' are common among friends and acquaintances. With strangers, older people, or in professional settings, switch to the formal 'Lei': 'Le va di...?' or 'Che ne dice di...?'. In many parts of Italy, an invitation to 'prendere un caffè' means a quick espresso at the bar, not a long coffee break. Regional habits vary, so follow the other person's lead.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Andiamo a un film' to mean 'Let's go to a movie.'
Try this instead: 'Andiamo a...' normally needs an infinitive or a specific place, not a bare noun like 'un film'. Say 'Andiamo a vedere un film' (Let's go see a movie) or 'Andiamo al cinema' (Let's go to the cinema). If you want to suggest the movie itself, use 'Che ne dici di un film?'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you suggest a pizza to one friend using 'Che ne dici di...?'
Show a sample answer
Che ne dici di una pizza?
This uses the informal singular 'dici' and the noun 'una pizza'. 'Che ne dite di una pizza?' is also correct if you are asking a group.
2Translate: 'We could go for a walk.'
Show a sample answer
Potremmo fare una passeggiata.
'Potremmo' plus the infinitive 'fare' expresses a gentle suggestion. 'Potremmo andare a fare una passeggiata' is also possible and adds 'andare'.
3Make a formal suggestion to an older person: 'How about a coffee?'
Show a sample answer
Che ne dice di un caffè?
The formal 'Lei' form changes 'dici' to 'dice'. 'Le va di prendere un caffè?' is another polite alternative.
To suggest an idea in Italian, reach for 'Che ne dici di...?' for one clear option, 'Potremmo...' for a soft possibility, and 'Andiamo a...' for a friendly invitation. Switch to 'dite' or 'dice' when you are not speaking to one friend.
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