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How to Say ‘Do you need a bag?’ in Italian

Le serve una busta?

leh SEHR-veh OO-nah BOO-stah

[leh SEHR-veh OO-nah BOO-stah]

💬 Usage Tip: In Italian, the thing you need does the action: Le serve una busta? is closer to "Is a bag useful to you?". With more than one item, the verb changes to match: Le servono due buste? "Do you need two bags?".

🇮🇹 In Italy: Supermarket bags aren't free in Italy. They cost a few cents, so cashiers ask before adding one to your bill.

Phrase Breakdown

Le serve

leh SEHR-veh

Do you need (formal)

'Le' is the formal 'to you', and 'serve' means 'is needed'. Together they mean 'do you need'. Say it 'leh SEHR-veh'.

Example

Le serve aiuto?

Do you need help?

Words in this phrase

[leh]

to you (formal)

Formal indirect pronoun meaning 'to you', used politely with strangers like customers.

Example

Le porto il caffè.

I'll bring you the coffee.

serve

[SEHR-veh]

is needed / do you need

From 'servire'; 'mi/le serve' means 'I/you need' (literally 'it serves me/you').

Example

Ti serve aiuto?

Do you need help?

una busta?

OO-nah BOO-stah

a bag?

'Busta' is the bag you get at a shop checkout. Stress the first syllable: 'OO-nah BOO-stah', and let your voice rise for the question.

Example

Vorrei una busta, grazie.

I'd like a bag, thanks.

Words in this phrase

una

[OO-nah]

a / an

Feminine singular indefinite article, used before feminine nouns.

Example

È una bella occasione per rivedersi.

It’s a nice occasion to see each other again.

busta

[BOO-stah]

bag

A shopping bag, often plastic or paper, sold at the checkout.

Example

Metto la frutta nella busta.

I put the fruit in the bag.

Guides for Italian learners

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