How to share dishes and split the bill in Italian
Prendiamo qualcosa da dividere?
“Shall we get something to share?”
When: While everyone is still reading the menu
The moment
You are out for dinner in Milan with Italian friends. Everyone is ordering for the table, you want to push one dish you loved last time, and the bill is coming.
A2 · Unit 1 · Eating out
The lines
Ordering for the table
In Italy starters usually land in the middle of the table. Prendiamo qualcosa da dividere? is how you propose it — the noi form makes it a group decision, not your order.
Prendiamo qualcosa da dividere?
“Shall we get something to share?”
When to use it: While everyone is still reading the menu
What you’ll hear back: Sì, dai, prendiamo degli antipasti. (Yes, come on, let's get some starters.)
Recommending what you tried
Back a recommendation with your own past experience: Ti consiglio l'amatriciana, l'ho provata ed era ottima. With friends use ti, and l'ho provata agrees with the feminine dish.
Ti consiglio l'amatriciana, l'ho provata ed era ottima.
“I recommend the amatriciana, I've had it and it was excellent.”
When to use it: When a friend can't decide what to order
What you’ll hear back: Allora la prendo anch'io! (Then I'll have it too!)
Words for this scene
| Italian | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| Vuoi assaggiare? | vwoy as-sad-JAH-reh | Do you want a taste? |
Questo risotto è buonissimo, vuoi assaggiare? This risotto is delicious, do you want a taste? Tip: Passing a forkful around the table is completely normal here. | ||
| Cin cin! | cheen CHEEN | Cheers! |
Alla nostra serata, cin cin! To our evening, cheers! Tip: Clink glasses looking each person in the eye, never crossing arms. | ||
| Facciamo alla romana | fat-CHAH-moh AL-lah roh-MAH-nah | Let's split the bill evenly |
Dai, facciamo alla romana, è più semplice. Come on, let's split it evenly, it's simpler. Tip: Default among friends; itemising your own dishes looks stingy. | ||
Your objective
Recommend a dish you’ve had before; when a friend can’t eat it, suggest another to share, then propose how to split the bill.
- a dish you recommend
- another dish when they can’t eat it
- how to split the bill
Lines that get it done
- Ti consiglio l'amatriciana, l'ho provata ed era ottima.
- Dai, facciamo alla romana, è più semplice. · Come on, let's split it evenly, it's simpler.
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You want to suggest ordering something for the whole table to share. What do you say?
- Prendiamo qualcosa da dividere?
- Prendiamo qualcosa da portare via?
- Dividiamo qualcosa da prendere via?
- Prendiamo qualcosa per dividere il conto?
Show the answer
Prendiamo qualcosa da dividere?
Da dividere means to share; da portare via would be takeaway.
2. A friend can't decide. How do you recommend the amatriciana you tried last time?
- Ti consiglio l'amatriciana, l'ho provata ed era ottima.
- Ti consiglio l'amatriciana, la proverò ed era ottima.
- Mi consigli l'amatriciana, l'ho provata ed era ottima.
- Consiglio a te l'amatriciana, l'ho provato ed era ottima.
Show the answer
Ti consiglio l'amatriciana, l'ho provata ed era ottima.
Ti consiglio plus the past l'ho provata tells them you have actually eaten it.
3. Glasses are up at the table. What is the natural toast?
- Cin cin!
- Buon appetito!
- Auguri!
- Prego!
Show the answer
Cin cin!
Cin cin is the toast; buon appetito is said before eating and auguri is for birthdays.