Italian: Expressing Purpose with 'per' + Noun or Infinitive
Learn to say what something is for in Italian using per + noun or per + infinitive, and see how it differs from English 'to' purpose clauses.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In English we often say 'a knife for cutting bread' or 'a knife to cut bread'. Italian normally uses one clear structure for this: per followed by a noun or an infinitive. This lesson teaches you to say what objects, tools, rooms and actions are for. You will learn the pattern, common fixed phrases, and how to avoid the very common mistake of translating English 'to' with a bare Italian infinitive.
By the end, you can…
- say what an object is used for using per + noun or per + infinitive
- ask and answer simple questions about purpose with a che cosa serve...?
- recognise when English 'to' must become per + infinitive in Italian
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Questo coltello è per tagliare il pane.
This knife is for cutting bread.
KWEH-sto kol-TEL-lo eh per tal-LYAH-reh eel PAH-neh
Standard pattern: per + infinitive. Use it for tools and objects.
Questa stanza è per gli ospiti.
This room is for the guests.
KWEH-sta STAN-tsa eh per lyee OS-pee-tee
per + noun. The noun keeps its article: per gli ospiti, per mia madre.
A che cosa serve questo?
What is this for?
ah keh KOH-za SER-veh KWEH-sto
Very common question. In speech you often hear just 'A che serve?'
Serve per aprire le bottiglie.
It is for opening bottles.
SER-veh per ah-PREE-reh leh bot-TEEL-yeh
servire per + infinitive is the standard way to state an object's purpose.
Ho comprato una crema per le mani.
I bought a hand cream.
oh kom-PRAH-toh OO-na KREH-ma per leh MAH-nee
per + noun for products. Literally 'a cream for the hands'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is per + noun or per + infinitive. Examples: 'Questa è una scatola per le scarpe' (This is a box for shoes); 'Uso il telefono per lavorare' (I use the phone for working). The infinitive never changes: per tagliare, per aprire, per studiare. Do not add a preposition after per.
When to use it
Use per + infinitive when the purpose is an action: 'Questo tasto è per accendere' (This button is for turning it on). Use per + noun when the purpose is a person, thing or category: 'un regalo per Maria', 'una borsa per il computer'. In questions, 'A che cosa serve...?' is neutral and standard; 'A che serve...?' is common in everyday speech.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Scusa, a che cosa serve questo aggeggio?
Sorry, what is this gadget for?SKOO-za, ah keh KOH-za SER-veh KWEH-sto ad-JED-joServe per aprire le scatolette.
It is for opening small cans.SER-veh per ah-PREE-reh leh ska-toh-LET-tehAh, capito. E quella borsa?
Ah, I see. And that bag?ah, ka-PEE-toh. eh KWEH-la BOR-saÈ per il computer, è imbottita.
It is for the laptop, it is padded.eh per eel kom-PYOO-ter, eh im-bot-TEE-taA little context goes a long way
In Italian, per + infinitive is the normal purpose structure; a bare infinitive after a noun (as in English 'a knife to cut') sounds wrong. In shops and homes, 'A che serve?' is perfectly polite. In formal writing, prefer 'A che cosa serve?' or 'Qual è la funzione di...?'.
One thing to watch for
Questo coltello è tagliare il pane.
Try this instead: You must add per before the infinitive: 'Questo coltello è per tagliare il pane.' English 'to cut' becomes per tagliare in Italian. The same applies to 'Uso il telefono per lavorare', not 'Uso il telefono lavorare'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Translate: 'This key is for opening the door.'
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Questa chiave è per aprire la porta.
per + infinitive aprire. 'Questa chiave serve per aprire la porta' is also correct and very natural.
2Translate: 'a gift for my mother'
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un regalo per mia madre
per + noun. With family members in the singular, Italian often drops the article: per mia madre, per papà.
3Answer: 'A che cosa serve questa crema?'
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Serve per le mani.
per + noun. 'È una crema per le mani' is equally correct; both answer the purpose question.
For purpose in Italian, use per + noun or per + infinitive. Never use a bare infinitive after a noun, and remember 'A che cosa serve?' to ask what something is for.
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