Italian 101 · Lesson 7
Ordering Food
Choose a meal, ask what is in it and make a simple request.
Begin ↓01 / 08
Say what you would like
Vorrei una pizza.
vor-RAY OO-nah PEET-tsah
I’d like a pizza.
Vorrei works at a restaurant, bakery or takeaway counter. Follow it directly with the dish.
02 / 08
Two natural alternatives
Per me la pasta.
The pasta for me.
Prendo il risotto.
PREN-doh eel ree-ZOT-toh
I’ll have the risotto.
Per me introduces your choice. Prendo literally means I take, but at the table it means I’ll have.
03 / 08
Ask for advice
Che cosa mi consiglia?
keh KOH-zah mee kon-SEE-lyah
What do you recommend?
This is a polite question to a server. Consiglia has the gli sound: keep it smooth, rather than pronouncing a hard g.
04 / 08
What is inside?
Che cosa c’è dentro?
keh KOH-zah cheh DEN-troh
What’s in it?
È piccante?
eh peek-KAN-teh
Is it spicy?
Ask before choosing when an ingredient matters to you. If you have an allergy, say so explicitly rather than relying on senza alone.
05 / 08
With and without
Con formaggio.
With cheese.
Senza cipolla, per favore.
SEN-tsah chee-POL-lah
Without onion, please.
Con adds something; senza removes it. Use a concrete ingredient after either word.
06 / 08
The article stays useful
Prendo la pasta al pomodoro.
I’ll have the pasta with tomato sauce.
gli spaghetti
lyee spah-GET-tee
spaghetti
la cena
lah CHEH-nah
dinner
Learn la pasta, il risotto and una pizza as chunks. In spaghetti, gh keeps the g hard before e; in cena, c before e sounds like ch.
07 / 08
At the table
Avete scelto?
Have you chosen?
Sì, per me il risotto, senza formaggio.
Yes, the risotto for me, without cheese.
A server may ask whether you have decided. Give your choice, then any short request.
Remember this
Takeaway
Vorrei una pizza. Che cosa c’è dentro?
I’d like a pizza. What’s in it?
Use vorrei for a request and prendo for your decision. Ask about ingredients before ordering.