🤲💰

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 form you use with a stranger; with a friend it would be tieni. pure here just softens it into a friendly go-ahead, not "also".

🇮🇹 In Italy: Tipping at an Italian coffee bar isn't expected. Leaving the small change is a nice gesture, not an obligation.

Phrase Breakdown

Tenga pure

TEN-gah POO-reh

Please keep

'Tenga' is the formal imperative of 'tenere' (to keep). 'Pure' softens it and means 'go ahead'. Say TEN-ga POO-reh.

Example

Tenga pure la penna.

Go ahead and 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]

please / go ahead

Adds politeness and encouragement, meaning the speaker may continue freely.

Example

Quando il personale è disponibile, dice: «Mi dica pure».

When the staff is available, they say: “Please go ahead.”

il resto

eel RES-toh

the change

'Resto' means the change you get back after paying. Roll the 'r' lightly: RES-to.

Example

Ecco il resto.

Here's the 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 after you pay more than the total.

Example

Non ho bisogno del resto.

I do not need the change.

Guides for Italian learners

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