Italian Phrase
Metti la tua borsa sulla bilancia, per favore.
Meaning
This sentence politely asks someone to place their bag on a weighing scale. The imperative ‘Metti’ gives a direct instruction, while ‘per favore’ adds courtesy, making it suitable for public or service contexts.
When to use
Use this phrase at airports, train stations, or any security checkpoint where bags are weighed, as well as in stores that have a scale for luggage. It’s also handy when a shop assistant needs to verify the weight of a purchased item.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Mettilatuaborsasullabilanciaperfavore
Imperative (tu) – Metti
‘Metti’ is the second‑person singular imperative of ‘mettere’ (to put), used for informal commands.
Possessive adjective agreement
‘tua’ agrees in gender (feminine) and number (singular) with ‘borsa’.
Preposition + article – sulla
‘sulla’ = ‘su’ (on) + definite article ‘la’; it contracts when the preposition ends in a vowel.
Polite formula – per favore
Adding ‘per favore’ softens the command, making it a courteous request.
🗨In Conversation
Metti la tua borsa sulla bilancia, per favore.
Put your bag on the scale, please.
Certo, eccola.
Sure, here it is.
✕Common Mistakes
Metta la tua borsa sulla bilancia, per favore.
‘Metta’ is the formal imperative (Lei); using it with a friend sounds overly stiff.
Metti la tua borsa sul bilancia, per favore.
‘Sul’ = su + il (masculine). The correct article for ‘bilancia’ (feminine) is ‘la’, so it must be ‘sulla’.
Metti la tua borsa sulla bilancia, per favore.
If you want to be more formal, replace the possessive with ‘la sua borsa’. Using ‘tua’ with a stranger can be too informal.
↔Alternatives
Posiziona la tua borsa sulla bilancia, per favore.
Position your bag on the scale, please.
Puoi mettere la tua borsa sulla bilancia?
Can you put your bag on the scale?
Metti la borsa sulla bilancia, grazie.
Put the bag on the scale, thanks.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, staff at airports, train stations, and some large stores often ask passengers to place their luggage on a scale before proceeding. Using ‘per favore’ shows respect and keeps the interaction friendly. Remember that ‘borsa’ usually refers to a handbag or small suitcase; for larger suitcases you might say ‘valigia’. Also, the formal version would be ‘Metta la sua borsa…’ when speaking to strangers in a very polite register.