Vocabulary

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Lesson Transcript

Let's take a closer look at the conversation.
Do you remember how the barista says,
"Please go ahead."
Prego.
Prego literally means, "[I] pray," but it translates as "Please go ahead," or "Go ahead," in this situation. Prego. Prego.
Note: Prego has multiple meanings depending on the situation.
For example, Prego means "You're welcome" after someone says Grazie, "Thank you."
It can also mean "Come in" when inviting someone into a room; or "After you" when you'd like to offer someone the chance to go first.
In this case, prego is used as an invitation to state the order: "Please go ahead."
Prego.
Note, Prego is from the verb, pregare. "To pray." Pregare.
Let's take a closer look at the response.
Do you remember how Karen says,
"Two of this, please?"
Due di questo, per favore.
First is due, "two." Due. Due.
Next is di, "of." Di. Di.
After this is questo, "this." Questo. Questo.
The word questo can be used when the name of the thing, or things, is not known and is close to the speaker. Karen uses it because she's pointing at something on the menu near to her, and she doesn't know the Italian word for it.
Note: Questo is masculine and singular.
Last is the phrase per favore, "please." Per favore. Per favore.
All together, Due di questo, per favore. "Two of this, please."
Due di questo, per favore.
The pattern is
{Number} di questo, per favore.
{Number} of this, please.
{Number} di questo, per favore.
To use this pattern, simply replace the {NUMBER} placeholder with the number of the item you're requesting.
Imagine you'd like three of a thing you don't know the Italian word for.
Three, tre. Tre. Tre.
Say
"Three of this, please."
Ready?
Tre di questo, per favore.
"Three of this, please."
Tre di questo, per favore.
The pattern, {Number} di questo, per favore can be used to order an item without knowing its name, and consequently its gender, in Italian.
If you know the name of an item, and also its gender, you can use the appropriate gender, and number, while pointing at the item.

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