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PhrasesAt the RestaurantPer me la pasta al pomodoro.
A1

Per me la pasta al pomodoro.

For me the pasta with tomato sauce.

Pronunciation

po-mo-DO-ro — four syllables, stress on the third. Never 'TOMAto' as in English.

When to use it

Use 'per me' (for me) when placing your individual order. It is the most natural Italian way to specify your choice.

What it means

'Per me' literally means 'for me' and signals your personal selection without requiring a full sentence structure. In Italian restaurants you do not say 'I would like' but simply 'per me + the dish'. It is direct but not rude.

Variations

Prendo le penne all'arrabbiata.

I'll have the penne all'arrabbiata.

'Prendo' (I take/I'll have) is equally common — slightly more assertive

Vorrei le tagliatelle al ragù.

I would like the tagliatelle al ragù.

'Vorrei' is the most formal and polite phrasing

Per lui gli spaghetti alle vongole.

For him the spaghetti with clams.

Use 'per lui/lei' when ordering on behalf of someone else

Mini Dialogue

— Cosa prendono di primo? — Per me la pasta al pomodoro, e per mio marito le penne all'arrabbiata. — E di secondo? — Vedremo dopo, grazie.

— What will you have for the first course? — For me the pasta with tomato sauce, and for my husband the penne all'arrabbiata. — And for the main course? — We'll see later, thank you.

Cultural Note

Italian meals are structured: antipasto, primo (pasta/risotto/soup), secondo (meat/fish) with contorno (side), and dolce (dessert). You are not obliged to order every course — but ordering only a secondo without a primo can sometimes surprise the waiter.