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How to Say ‘Are you saving it for someone?’ in Italian

Lo stai tenendo per qualcuno?

lo sty teh-NEN-doh pehr kwal-KOO-noh

[lo sty teh-NEN-doh pehr kwal-KOO-noh]

🇮🇹 In Italy: A classic light opener at a crowded Italian bar, pointing at the empty stool. It sounds casual and gives the other person an easy way to say yes or no.

Phrase Breakdown

Lo stai tenendo

lo sty teh-NEN-doh

are you keeping it

This is the progressive form. Here it refers to saving a seat.

Example

Lo stai tenendo occupato?

Are you keeping it taken?

Words in this phrase

[lo]

Used to refer to an object or thing mentioned earlier.

Example

Lo vedo ogni giorno.

I see it every day.

stai

[sty]

are you

Second-person singular of stare, used with a gerund to ask what someone is doing.

Example

Stai dormendo abbastanza questa settimana?

Are you sleeping enough this week?

tenendo

[teh-NEN-doh]

keeping / holding

Gerund of 'tenere' (to keep, to hold); with 'stare' it expresses an ongoing action.

Example

Sto tenendo la borsa per mia sorella.

I'm holding the bag for my sister.

per qualcuno?

pehr kwal-KOO-noh

for someone?

Stress qual-CU-no, and let your voice rise for the question.

Example

C'è un messaggio per qualcuno?

Is there a message for someone?

Words in this phrase

per

[pehr]

for

A preposition used to explain purpose or reason.

Example

Sono qui per conoscere nuove aziende.

I am here to get to know new companies.

qualcuno

[kwal-KOO-noh]

Someone

An unspecified person.

Example

Qualcuno mi ha chiamato.

Someone called me.

Guides for Italian learners

Duolingo vs Busuu: Which Is Better for Actually Improving?Duolingo vs Busuu compared: a free gamified habit versus structured levels with corrections from native speakers. Which to choose, and when to use both.

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