Bedeutung
Asking if something is causing an issue.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase is a key part of 'cortesia' (courtesy). Italians often use it to avoid appearing 'prepotente' (overbearing). In the South, hospitality is paramount. Asking 'È un problema?' might be met with 'Ma quale problema!' (What problem!), emphasizing that nothing is too much trouble for a guest. In meetings, this phrase is used to 'tastare il terreno' (test the waters) before making a definitive proposal. On social media and WhatsApp, 'problemi?' is often used as a meme or a short way to check in before sending large files or starting a call.
The 'Per Te' trick
Add 'per te' (for you) to make it sound friendlier and more personal.
Gender Trap
Never say 'una problema'. It marks you as a beginner immediately.
Bedeutung
Asking if something is causing an issue.
The 'Per Te' trick
Add 'per te' (for you) to make it sound friendlier and more personal.
Gender Trap
Never say 'una problema'. It marks you as a beginner immediately.
Conditional Magic
Use 'Sarebbe un problema?' to sound 10x more polite in formal situations.
The Response
If someone asks you this, the most common polite answer is 'Figurati!' (Don't mention it/No worries!).
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct article for 'problema'.
___ problema?
'Problema' is a masculine noun, so it takes the masculine indefinite article 'un'.
Complete the dialogue with the most appropriate phrase.
A: Posso sedermi qui? B: Sì, certo! A: Grazie, spero che non ___.
In this context, the subjunctive 'sia' is used after 'spero che' to sound more natural and polite.
Match the situation to the best variation of the phrase.
You are asking your boss to move a meeting.
The conditional 'sarebbe' and the formal 'per Lei' are appropriate for a professional setting.
Fill in the missing verb to ask if it 'was' a problem.
Scusa per ieri, ___ un problema?
The imperfect 'era' is used to ask about a past situation.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Masculine words ending in -a
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgaben___ problema?
'Problema' is a masculine noun, so it takes the masculine indefinite article 'un'.
A: Posso sedermi qui? B: Sì, certo! A: Grazie, spero che non ___.
In this context, the subjunctive 'sia' is used after 'spero che' to sound more natural and polite.
You are asking your boss to move a meeting.
The conditional 'sarebbe' and the formal 'per Lei' are appropriate for a professional setting.
Scusa per ieri, ___ un problema?
The imperfect 'era' is used to ask about a past situation.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt's neutral. You can use it with friends, but also with strangers or at work.
Because 'problema' is masculine. Words of Greek origin ending in -ma are usually masculine in Italian.
Yes! It's the most common way to say 'No problem'.
'È un problema?' is about the situation; 'Ti dispiace?' is about whether the person minds personally.
No, it's actually very polite. It shows you care about the other person's convenience.
You can say 'È un grosso problema?' or 'È un grave problema?'.
Yes, it's very common in professional emails to check if a proposal is okay.
Use 'Le creerebbe disturbo?' or 'Sarebbe un inconveniente?'.
In writing, yes. In speaking, use a rising intonation at the end.
Yes, but it's more general, like 'Are there any issues?'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Tutto a posto?
similarIs everything okay?
Ti dispiace?
synonymDo you mind?
Nessun problema
builds onNo problem
Non c'è problema
synonymThere is no problem
Ci sono problemi?
similarAre there problems?
