A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "I'll take it" in Italian
Learn how to say 'I'll take it' in Italian with our quick guide to 'Lo prendo', including pronunciation, alternatives, and cultural tips.
Lo prendo
loh PREHN-dohneutral
Italian TTS · 0:01
Use this phrase when you have decided to buy an item in an Italian shop, boutique, or market stall. It is perfect when handing an article of clothing to a clerk or pointing to a specific piece of cheese at a deli counter. It signals a definitive decision to purchase the item you are referencing.
Alternatives
- La prendobetter if the item you are buying is grammatically feminine, like 'la maglia' or 'la borsa'
- Li prendobetter if you are buying multiple plural items, like shoes or earrings
- Lo comprobetter when emphasizing the literal act of purchasing rather than just selecting it
Ways to get it wrong
Using 'Prenderò lo'
English speakers often try to use the future tense and put the pronoun at the end, but Italians naturally use the present tense 'lo prendo' for immediate decisions.
Ignoring noun gender
Remember to change 'lo' to 'la' if the object you are purchasing is a feminine noun, otherwise it sounds grammatically jarring to a local native speaker.
A small cultural note
In traditional Italian markets, saying 'Lo prendo' starts the transaction, but it is polite to wait for the vendor to wrap the item rather than grabbing it yourself immediately.
Frequently asked
Do I say lo prendo or la prendo when buying something in Italy?
It depends entirely on the grammatical gender of the item you are purchasing. Use 'lo prendo' for masculine items like 'il libro' and 'la prendo' for feminine items like 'la camicia'.
Is lo prendo polite enough for an expensive Italian boutique?
Yes, 'lo prendo' is perfectly polite and neutral for any retail environment. If you want to sound extra formal, you can follow it up with a pleasant 'grazie'.
What tense is lo prendo in Italian?
It uses the present indicative tense ('I take it') rather than the future tense. Italians almost always use the present tense for spontaneous decisions made at the moment of speaking.
