Are you sending me signals?
mi STA-i man-DAN-do dei se-GNA-li — stress on 'sta-i', 'dan-', 'gna-'. 'Segnali' has three syllables: se-GNA-li.
A playful and self-aware flirtatious question — acknowledging ambiguous signals and asking them to be clearer. Creates immediate intimacy.
'Mi stai mandando' = you are sending me (stare + gerundio progressive). 'Dei segnali' = some signals (partitive article + noun). This is a meta-flirtation — talking about the flirting while flirting. Playful and direct.
Mi sembra che tu stia flirtando con me.
I think you might be flirting with me.
States the observation clearly — calls out the flirting with a smile
Non sono sicuro/a di come interpretarti.
I'm not sure how to read you.
Creates intrigue — invites them to be clearer
Se mi stai facendo il filo, funziona.
If you're trying to flirt with me, it's working.
'Fare il filo' = to flirt/court — old-fashioned idiom that is charming and a little comedic
Italians often flirt through indirection — signals, glances, and implications. But asking directly 'mi stai mandando segnali?' is increasingly common among younger, more direct Italians. It combines boldness with playfulness — a combination that is very appealing.