How to Say "For" in Italian – Learning How To Say "For", For Free!
A gift can be for a good friend. A colleague can be the reason for all of your stress. The prepositional phrase with “for” can be a cause or an effect in the English language.
Learning the various ways to use the word “for” in Italian can improve the effectiveness of your communication with others. It is a staple in everyday conversation, and in order to complete countless simple sentences, it is often necessary.
The preposition per is found in countless phrases. When you are trying to learn a preposition, you should always memorize it in context. Our unique Italian Frequency Dictionary series offers you 10,000 most common Italian words and shows you their usage in context. This makes vocabulary learning extremely effective.
How to Translate "For" into Italian
The word “for” in Italian is “per.” It's pronounced [per]. Per is also used in English, often referring to measurements. A common example could be if an ingredient is to be measured “per every ounce” when following a recipe.
Essential Phrases with "Per" in Italian
Grazie per il tuo tempo. – Thank you for your time.
Gratitude is as important in conversation as a standard greeting. Thanking someone for their time, especially in professional settings, can make you stand out from the crowd in a positive light.
“For” or per in this context is acknowledging that someone else’s time is being given away to you. It is polite to use this phrase after a job interview or in a professional email.
I soldi sono per lei/lui/loro. – The money is for her/him/them.
Once again, the word “for” here is acknowledging that something belongs to someone else. In this case, it is money.
For example, if the rent is due and you have roommates, you may need to explain that the money you’re giving them is for the landlord. Or, perhaps the money is a gift on someone’s birthday.
Being able to use per correctly in situations involving money will make your life easier.
Cosa c'è per cena? – What is for dinner?
Food is commonly referred to as a universal language. Everyone needs to eat! If you find yourself in Italy, you’ll be surrounded by some of the best food in the world.
When you go out with your friends or stay in for a home-cooked meal, knowing how to properly use per will help your group make this important decision. Although pasta and wine is always a great option!
Even though we are digressing a little from the topic of this article, let’s take a look a couple of important phases related to pasta and wine.
- Mangiamo un po‘ di pasta. – Let’s eat some pasta.
- Questo è un vino eccellente. – This is an excellent wine.
Mi sto preparando per il lavoro. – I’m getting ready for work.
Adult life is expensive, and getting ready every day takes time! Therefore, getting ready for work is typically a weekday occurrence. The variable “work” can be interchanged as needed, but letting people know you’re getting dressed can help ease day planning.
Especially if you’re traveling in a group, it is helpful to let them know that you’re awake and beginning the day. Scuola in Italian means “school” in English. So, if you have children, you will likely hear this early in the morning. Hopefully, before anyone is stuck running late!
Other Ways to Translate “For” into Italian
It would be too easy if there was just one way to translate “for” into Italian. Prepositions, especially, can have dozens of possible translations. “For” is unfortunately no different.
Let’s review some of the most common phrases containing “for” in English and their translations into the Italian language.
Most Common Verbs Followed by “For” in English
- To pay for = pagare (qc) – Chi ha pagato il pranzo? – Who paid for lunch?
- To wait for = espettare (qc, q) – Ti aspetterò. – I will wait for you.
- To look for = cercare (qc, q) – Sta cercando qualcuno? – Are you looking for someone?
You can see that verbs with “for” in English often don’t have a preposition in Italian. However, don’t let that fool you. We’ve already mentioned grazie which is followed by per. It can also be followed by “di,” such as Grazie di aver chiamato. – Thank you for calling.
For Sale in Italian and Suchlike
The preposition “for” is common in a variety of phrases. Let’s revise the most basic ones that you will find handy especially while traveling in Italy.
- For sale – in vendita. This Italian translation can also mean “on sale.” It’s always nice to get a good bargain, so don’t forget this phrase! If somebody wants to buy something from you, and you don’t want to sell it, say: Questo non è in vendita.
- For free – gratis or gratuito. This one is even better than “on sale.” You can remember for example C’è del cibo gratis. – “There’s free food.” If you travel with children, their admission is often free, too: L’ingresso è gratuito per i bambini.
- For sure – there are several possible translations, such as certamente, sicuramente, or di sicuro. If it follows the verb to know, you can say sapere per certo.
These are just a few prepositional phrases for you to remember. If you learn Italian prepositional phrases, don't forget that the abbreviation qc means qualcosa – something and q means qualcuno – somebody.
Conclusion
Per is an important preposition. It is essential in basic communication, and the possibilities of its use are endless. In your Italian travels, knowing prepositional phrases can positively impact the outcome of your vacation.
Small tasks are impossible without them, and as you learn more of them, communicating with native Italian speakers will become much easier. In fact, prepositional phrases are a great place for you to start when learning any language!