Italian Phrase
Cosa possiamo buttare?
Meaning
This phrase is used to ask for clarification on which items are no longer needed and can be discarded. It combines the interrogative 'cosa' (what) with the first-person plural of 'potere' (can) and the infinitive 'buttare' (to throw away).
When to use
Use this when helping someone clean a space, such as a room or office, or when deciding which items to keep during a move. It is a common question during decluttering or organizing activities.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cosapossiamobuttare
Cosa
Short for 'che cosa', this is the standard way to ask 'what' in Italian.
Possiamo
The 'we' form of the verb 'potere' (can/may), used to express ability or permission.
Buttare
A common verb meaning to throw away; it stays in the infinitive after a modal verb like 'possiamo'.
🗨In Conversation
Cosa possiamo buttare da questo armadio?
What can we throw away from this closet?
Puoi buttare tutto tranne quella scatola blu.
You can throw away everything except that blue box.
✕Common Mistakes
Cosa possiamo butta?
Always use the infinitive form 'buttare' after the conjugated modal verb 'possiamo'.
Cosa possiamo di buttare?
The verb 'potere' is followed directly by the infinitive without any preposition like 'di'.
↔Alternatives
Cosa si può buttare?
What can be thrown away?
Che cosa buttiamo?
What are we throwing away?
Cultural Tip
Italy has strict recycling laws called 'raccolta differenziata' which vary by municipality. When asking what to throw away, Italians are often mindful of which specific bin—paper, plastic, or organic—the item belongs in.