💰✋

How to Say ‘Keep the change’ in Italian

Tenga pure il resto

TEN-gah POO-reh eel Res-toh

[TEN-gah POO-reh eel Res-toh]

💬 Usage Tip: tenga is the polite command form of tenere "to keep" (informal: tieni). pure softens it into a friendly 'go ahead'.

Phrase Breakdown

Tenga pure

TEN-gah POO-reh

Please keep

'Tenga' is the formal command form of 'tenere' (to keep), pronounced TEN-ga. 'Pure' (PU-re) makes it sound friendly and permissive.

Example

Tenga pure la penna.

Feel free to keep the pen.

Words in this phrase

Tenga

[TEN-gah]

keep

Formal imperative of 'tenere' (to keep/hold), used politely with Lei.

Example

Tenga la ricevuta, per favore.

Keep the receipt, please.

pure

[POO-reh]

go ahead / feel free

Used to encourage someone politely, as in go ahead, feel free to speak.

Example

Parla pure, ti ascolto.

Go ahead, I’m listening.

il resto

eel Res-toh

the change

'Resto' is the change you get back after paying. Say it RES-to.

Example

Ecco il resto.

Here's your change.

Words in this phrase

[eel]

the

Masculine singular definite article used before a masculine singular noun.

Example

Nella frase Il tempo personale, Il introduce il concetto di tempo privato.

In the phrase 'Il tempo personale,' 'Il' introduces the concept of private time.

resto

[Res-toh]

Change

The money returned to someone as the balance after paying with more than the exact amount.

Example

Il resto del pagamento è cinque euro.

The change from the payment is five euros.

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