Learn Italian: Fai un favore per me? - Are you doing a favor for me?

Fai un favore per me?

Are you doing a favor for me?

Breakdown of Fai un favore per me?

a / an (masculine)

per

for / in order to / because of

fare

to do / to make

Questions & Answers about Fai un favore per me?

How does the verb fare work here?

Fare (to do / to make) is an irregular verb, meaning it doesn't follow the normal -are ending patterns. Fai is the specific form for you (singular, informal). Because it is irregular, this is one of those verbs you just have to memorize!

Where is the translation for 'Are you' in this question?

Italian doesn't use helper words like do or are to ask questions. The single word fai means you do or you are doing. To turn a statement into a question in Italian, you just keep the exact same word order and add a question mark, raising your pitch at the end when speaking.

Why does this sentence use me instead of mi?

Whenever a pronoun comes immediately after a preposition like per (for), da (from), or con (with), you must use a stressed pronoun. The stressed pronoun for me is me. You would use mi if the pronoun were attached to the verb instead.

Would Italians actually phrase the question this way in real life?

They might, especially if they want to emphasize that the favor is for them. However, it is much more common in everyday Italian to hear Mi fai un favore? instead. In that version, the pronoun mi (to/for me) is placed directly in front of the verb.