lo stesso
/lo ˈstes.so/word by word
The Italian phrase for "same again" is lo stesso.
You use lo stesso to request another serving of the same food or drink you just had. It is standard and polite to add grazie (thanks) to the end of the phrase when making this request to a waiter or bartender, as in Lo stesso, grazie.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase lo stesso literally translates to "the same".
How do you pronounce it?
The phrase has 3 syllables. The stress is on the second syllable: /lo ˈstes.so/.
Did you know?
- If you are in a cafe and want to say 'the same to you' after someone says 'have a nice day', do not use lo stesso. Instead, use the word altrettanto to avoid sounding like you are ordering more coffee.
- If you use lo stesso as a standalone response to a statement rather than an order, the meaning shifts to 'it doesn't matter' or 'it's all the same to me'.
- The word stesso is a linguistic 'hybrid' that was built from two separate Latin words: istum, meaning 'that', and ipsum, meaning 'himself'.
Examples in context
- Prendo lo stesso per il secondo piatto.I'll have the same for the second course.
Example conversation
Francesco and Chiara are at a bar ordering another round of drinks.
- FrancescoVuoi un altro drink, Chiara?Do you want another drink, Chiara?
- ChiaraSì, prendo lo stesso.Yes, I'll have the same again.
- FrancescoPerfetto, ne ordino due.Perfect, I'll order two.
- ChiaraGrazie, Francesco!Thanks, Francesco!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry lo stesso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (lo, stesso) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lo, stesso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
