tieni il resto
To say 'keep the change' in Italian, use tieni il resto.
This phrase is used as an instruction to keep the change (phrase).
Meaning: instruction to keep the change (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb tieni (keep/hold) and il resto (the remainder/the change).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
tieni il resto is an informal way to express this. If you want to be more formal or polite when speaking to a stranger, such as a waiter or a taxi driver, use tenga il resto instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
The reflexive form tenersi il resto is often used to describe the act of a person keeping the change for themselves.
Did you know?
- In some regions of Italy, tipping is not as common as in the US, so saying tenga il resto can be seen as a very generous gesture rather than a standard custom.
- In many Italian regions, if you are paying at a bar, the concept of 'the change' might be less common than simply leaving a few coins on the counter without saying a word.
- In Italian, the concept of 'the change' is expressed by the same word used for 'the remainder' in a mathematical subtraction problem.
Examples in context
- Tieni il resto, per favore.Keep the change, please.This sentence is useful for seeing how to add 'please' to the phrase tieni il resto.Tatoeba #2482874 by Guybrush88, translation #278438 by frpzzd
- Tieni il resto.Keep the change!This sentence is useful for seeing the phrase tieni il resto used as a direct command.Tatoeba #806553 by Guybrush88, translation #39748 by CK
- Tieni il resto per il caffè.Keep the change for the coffee.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina is paying for a coffee at a small bar.
- MartinaEcco dieci euro.Here are ten euros.
- AlessandroGrazie, Martina. Vuoi lo scontrino?Thanks, Martina. Do you want the receipt?
- MartinaNo, tieni il resto, Alessandro.No, keep the change, Alessandro.
- AlessandroGrazie mille, sei molto gentile.Thanks a lot, you are very kind.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
