What shall we bring as a contribution?
'Portiamo' = por-TIA-mo. 'Contributo' = con-tri-BU-to.
Use this when you have been invited to someone's home and want to know what to bring. Asking proactively rather than arriving empty-handed shows Italian social awareness. It can also be used to divide responsibilities in group events.
'Come contributo' (as a contribution) — 'come' here means 'as/in the capacity of'. 'Contributo' (contribution) is slightly more formal than 'qualcosa' (something) — it implies you are actively contributing rather than just being polite.
Porto il dolce, chi porta il vino?
I will bring the dessert, who is bringing the wine?
Volunteering for a specific item and checking others
Abbiamo già il vino, portate pure l'antipasto.
We already have wine, feel free to bring the antipasto.
Host's response directing what guests bring
Non portate niente, ci penso io a tutto.
Don't bring anything, I will take care of everything.
Host's generous refusal — often said, rarely meant
Vermentino is a crisp white wine from Sardinia and Liguria — particularly well-suited to fish dishes. Italian food and wine pairing ('abbinamento cibo-vino') is a serious subject. Suggesting the right wine for the food being served shows food culture knowledge that Italians deeply appreciate. 'Portare il vino' is the classic Italian guest contribution.