How to Order Multiple Items From a Menu

Learn how to order multiple items from a menu

Dialogue

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Vocabulary

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Lesson Transcript

Welcome to Can-Do Italian by ItalianPod101.com.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to order two or more of something at a restaurant in Italian.

For example, "Two of these, please." is

Due di questo, per favore.

Emily Erba is at the restaurant with her husband.

The server is ready to take their order, and approaches them.

Before you hear their conversation, let's preview some of its key components.

Prego.

"Please, go ahead."

Prego.

due

"two"

due

Prego.

Due di questo, per favore.

Once more with the English translation.

Prego.

"Please, go ahead."

Due di questo, per favore.

"Two of this, please."

Let's break down the conversation.

Do you remember how the waiter 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 Emily 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. Emily 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

QUANTITY di questo, per favore.

QUANTITY of this, please.

QUANTITY di questo, per favore.

To use this pattern, simply replace the QUANTITY placeholder with the number of the item you're requesting.

Note: This pattern requires a number.

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.

Again, the key pattern is

QUANTITY di questo, per favore.

QUANTITY of this, please.

QUANTITY di questo, per favore.

Let’s look at some more examples.

Listen and repeat or speak along with the native speakers.

Due di questo, per favore.

"Two of this, please."

Due di questo, per favore.

Tre di questo, per favore.

"Three of this, please."

Tre di questo, per favore.

Quattro di questo, per favore.

"Four of this, please."

Quattro di questo, per favore.

Questo, per favore.

"This, please."

Questo, per favore.

Due di questo e questo.

"Two of this and this."

Due di questo e questo.

Did you notice how the last speaker used a different pattern?

Due di questo e questo.

“Two of this and this.”

When pointing out multiple items, you can join them with the conjunction e, meaning "and." E.

Also, in colloquial Italian it’s very common to drop per favore, “please,” at the end of the request.

All together, Due di questo e questo. Two of this and this. Due di questo e questo.

You should be aware of this pattern, but you won’t need it for this lesson.

Let's review the key vocabulary.

Quattro, “four,” quattro , quattro.

Tre, “three,” tre , tre.

Let's review.

Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after the native speaker, focusing on pronunciation.

Ready?

Do you remember how to say "please?"

Per favore.

When you don't know the Italian word for something, how do you say "this?"

Questo.

Do you remember how to say "two?"

Due.

And do you remember how Emily Erba says,

"Two of this, please."

Due di questo, per favore.

Do you remember how the waiter says,

"Please, go ahead."

Prego.

Do you remember how to say "three?"

Tre.

And how to say "four?"

Quattro.

Do you remember how to say "one?"

Uno.

Let's practice.

Imagine you’re Adam Russo , and you’re at the coffee shop with two friends. Order “three of this." "Three" is tre.

Ready?

Prego.

Tre di questo, per favore.

Listen again and repeat.

Tre di questo, per favore.

Let’s try another.

Imagine you're Isabella Russo , and you’re at the coffee shop with three friends. Order for all four people. "Four" is quattro.

Ready?

Prego.

Quattro di questo, per favore.

Listen again and repeat.

Quattro di questo, per favore.

Let’s try one more.

Imagine you're Riccardo Russo , and you’re by yourself.

Order one of something by saying, "This, please." "This" is questo.

Ready?

Prego.

Questo, per favore.

Listen again and repeat.

Questo, per favore.

In this lesson, you learned how to order two or more of something at a restaurant. This plays an essential role in the larger skill of dining at the restaurant. Let’s review.

Do you remember how to say "please?"

Per favore.

And how to say "menu?"

Menù.

Do you remember how to say "a menu?"

Un menù.

Do you remember how to say,

"Excuse me, a menu, please."

Scusi, un menù, per favore.

And do you remember how to say,

"Yes, right away."

Sì, subito.

Imagine you're Jack Jones and you're at a restaurant with your friends, and you'd like to ask for a coffee.

Do you remember how to say "a coffee" in Italian?

un caffè

Now ask for a coffee.

Ready?

Un caffè, per favore.

Sì, subito.

Listen again and repeat.

Un caffè, per favore.

You're ready to make your order. You'd like to order three of one item.

Do you remember how to say "three" in Italian?

tre

Respond to the server's approach.

Prego.

Tre di questo, per favore.

Listen again and repeat.

Tre di questo, per favore.

Well done! This is the end of the lesson and the Can order at a restaurant unit of this course.

Remember, these Can Do lessons are about learning practical language skills.

What's next?

Show us what you can do.

When you're ready, take your assessment.

You can take it again and again, so try anytime you like.

Our teachers will assess it, and give you your results.

Keep practicing — and move on to the next series!

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