Travel Phrases 30 Cosa volete ordinare? What would

Travel Phrases Lesson 30
Cosa volete ordinare? What would you like to
order?
Italiano
English
Cameriere: Cosa volete ordinare?
Waiter: What would you like to order?
Cliente: Vorremmo due insalate miste. Poi Customer: We’d like two mixed salads. Then
ravioli alla ricotta per me. E penne ricotta ravioli for me. And penne arrabbiata
all’arrabbiata per lei.
for her.
Cameriere: Cosa desiderate bere?
Waiter: What would you like to drink.
Cliente: Vino rosso della casa.
Customer: House red wine.
If you are two or more people the waiter will probably ask you Cosa volete ordinare?
What would you like to order? The Italian verb is plural so it is used to address two or more
people.
The first word of this phrase is cosa meaning what when used in a question sentence.
This is followed by volete, which can be translated as would you like, plural, in a question
sentence.
The last word is ordinare, which means to order.
It is now your turn to say what you would like to order. In the dialogue we had Vorremmo due
insalate miste. Poi ravioli alla ricotta per me. E penne all’arrabiata per lei. We’d like two mixed
salads. Then ricotta ravioli for me. And penne arrabbiata for her.
The first word vorremmo, means we would like, formal.
The next word is due, which means two.
This is followed by insalate meaning salads.
The next word is miste, which can be translated as mixed.
Then we have the sentence Poi ravioli alla ricotta per me. Translated as Then ricotta ravioli for
me. It starts with, poi meaning then.
Next we have the word ravioli, which is the same in English, ravioli.
The next word is alla, which means at. In this phrase indicating the type of ingredient.
This is followed by ricotta, which is the same in English, ricotta.
We then have two words per me, meaning for me.
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You now ask for the food your female companion wants by saying E penne all’arrabiata per lei.
And penne arrabbiata for her.
The first word is e, and.
Followed by penne, which is a type of short pasta, also called penne, in English.
The next word is all’ which means at. Also in this phrase indicating the type of ingredient.
Then we have arrabbiata, the name of a pasta sauce usually made with garlic, tomatoes and red
chili cooked in olive oil.
And finally per lei, meaning for her. Please note that this is not the formal word for you, but refers
to the person as a woman. It is written with a lower case l.
The waiter will now most likely ask Cosa desiderate bere? What would you like to drink?
The first word cosa means what when used in a question sentence.
It is followed by desiderate, literally meaning you desire, plural.
And finally bere, meaning to drink.
Now please tell the waiter what you would like to drink. In the dialog we used Vino rosso della
casa. House red wine.
The first word is vino, wine.
This is followed by della, meaning of the, feminine singular.
And finally casa, house.
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