How to Ask for Takeaway in Italian: da asporto or da portare via
Learn to order takeaway in Italian using da asporto and da portare via. Master questions for staff, distinguish eating in vs taking away, and confirm your order.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
If you want to order food to go in Italy, you need to know how to ask for takeaway. The two most common expressions are da asporto and da portare via. They are not always interchangeable, and the choice can depend on the type of shop and the region. This lesson teaches you the exact phrases to use when ordering, asking for packaging, and confirming your order. You will also learn how to distinguish between eating in and taking away, so you can communicate clearly in any food service situation.
By the end, you can…
- ask for takeaway food using da asporto and da portare via.
- distinguish between eating in and taking away when ordering.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Prendo da asporto, per favore.
I'll take it to go, please.
PREHN-doh dah ah-SPOR-toh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
Use da asporto in most restaurants, pizzerias, and fast food places. It is standard nationwide.
Lo posso portare via?
Can I take it away?
loh POHS-soh por-TAH-reh VEE-ah
Da portare via is common in central and southern Italy, especially for pizza by the slice or casual eateries.
Qui o da asporto?
For here or to take away?
kwee oh dah ah-SPOR-toh
A short question staff may ask. Reply Qui, grazie or Da asporto, per favore according to what you want.
Me lo può mettere in un contenitore?
Can you put it in a container for me?
meh loh pwoh MEHT-teh-reh een oon kohn-teh-nee-TOH-reh
Ask for packaging if you need a container. In some places, they may charge for it, but policies vary.
Va bene così, grazie.
That's fine, thank you.
vah BEH-neh koh-ZEE, GRAH-tsee-eh
Use this to confirm your order after the staff repeats it or asks if everything is correct.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The key pattern is da asporto or da portare via. Da asporto is a fixed phrase meaning 'for takeaway'. Da portare via literally means 'to bring away'. Both can follow verbs like prendere (to take) or volere (to want). For example: Vorrei una pizza da asporto. (I would like a pizza to go.) or Prendo due panini da portare via. (I'll take two sandwiches to go.) You can also use the question form: È possibile da asporto? (Is takeaway possible?) Note that da asporto is more formal and widely understood, while da portare via is slightly more colloquial and common in some regions.
When to use it
Use da asporto when ordering at a restaurant, pizzeria, or any place with a counter. It is safe everywhere. Use da portare via when you are at a casual place, like a pizza al taglio shop or a street food stall, and you want to emphasize taking the food away. If you are unsure, da asporto is always fine. To ask if you can eat on site, say Mangio qui. To ask for takeaway, say Da asporto, per favore. If the staff asks you 'Qui o da asporto?' (Here or to go?), you can answer 'Da asporto' or 'Qui, grazie'. Remember that some places may not offer takeaway, so you can ask: 'Fate da asporto?' (Do you do takeaway?)
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buonasera, vorrei ordinare una margherita.
Good evening, I would like to order a margherita.bwoh-nah-SEH-rah, vor-REH-ee or-dee-NAH-reh oo-nah mar-geh-REE-tahCerto. La mangia qui o da asporto?
Certainly. Are you eating here or taking away?CHEHR-toh. lah MAHN-jah kwee oh dah ah-SPOR-tohDa asporto, per favore. Me la può mettere in un contenitore?
To go, please. Can you put it in a container for me?dah ah-SPOR-toh, pehr fah-VOH-reh. meh lah pwoh MEHT-teh-reh een oon kohn-teh-nee-TOH-rehSì, va bene. Sono cinque euro.
Yes, that's fine. It's five euros.see, vah BEH-neh. SOH-noh CHEEN-kweh EH-oo-rohA little context goes a long way
In Italy, the distinction between eating in and taking away is important. Many places have different prices for consumption on site versus takeaway, though this varies. Da asporto is understood nationwide, while da portare via is more common in central and southern Italy, especially for pizza by the slice. It is polite to specify your choice when ordering. If you need packaging, ask politely with 'Me lo può mettere in un contenitore?' Some establishments may charge for containers, but this is not universal. Always confirm your order with 'Va bene così' or 'Perfetto, grazie'.
One thing to watch for
Treating Mangio qui? as a question that restaurant staff ask a customer about the customer’s order.
Try this instead: Mangio means I eat. Staff can ask Qui o da asporto? or Mangia qui o porta via? The customer can answer Da asporto, per favore. Da portare via is also a normal way to express taking food away.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you ask for a takeaway pizza in a restaurant?
Show a sample answer
Vorrei una pizza da asporto.
This uses the polite conditional 'vorrei' and the standard phrase 'da asporto'. You could also say 'Prendo una pizza da asporto' or 'Una pizza da portare via, per favore' in casual contexts.
2What short question might staff ask to check whether you want to eat here or take away?
Show a sample answer
Qui o da asporto?
Staff may ask this short question to check whether you will eat on the premises or take the order away. Reply Da asporto, per favore for takeaway.
3How do you ask for a container for your food?
Show a sample answer
Me lo può mettere in un contenitore?
This is a polite request using 'potere' (can) and 'mettere' (put). You can also say 'Posso avere un contenitore?' (Can I have a container?)
Use 'da asporto' as your default for takeaway in Italian. In casual places, 'da portare via' also works. Always specify 'da asporto' when ordering, and ask politely for packaging if needed.
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