Question Words and Information Questions

In brief

To ask for specific information in Italian, start with a question word: chi (who), che cosa or cosa (what), dove (where), quando (when), come (how), or perché (why). The question word tells the listener what kind of answer you need.

Form

Question word + verb + the rest of the question? The subject pronoun is often omitted because the verb form usually makes it clear who you mean.

Usage

• Use dove to ask about a place and quando to ask about a time.
• Use come to ask how someone is or how something happens.
• Use chi for a person and che cosa or cosa for a thing or action.
• Use perché to ask for a reason; keep its accent mark.

Examples

• Dove abiti? — Where do you live?
• Quando parte il treno? — When does the train leave?
• Come stai? — How are you?
• Che cosa mangi? — What are you eating?

Common mistake

❌ Dove fai abiti?

✅ Dove abiti?

English uses ‘do’ in questions like ‘Where do you live?’ Italian uses the verb directly after the question word; don’t add fare as a helper verb.

Remember

In Italian, a question mark closes a written question; you do not need an extra word corresponding to English ‘do’.