Italian Phrase
È per cose di valore.
Meaning
Literally, ‘It is for valuable things.’ The sentence is used to state that something (a box, a safe, a service, etc.) is intended for items that have high monetary or sentimental worth.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to explain the purpose of an object, space, or service that is meant to hold or protect valuable items. It works in both formal and informal contexts, especially when you want to keep the description generic rather than naming the specific items.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Èpercosedivalore
È (essere)
Third‑person singular of the verb ‘essere’; used here as a copula meaning ‘it is’.
per (preposition)
Indicates purpose or intended use, similar to ‘for’ in English.
cose (noun)
Plural of ‘cosa’, a generic word for ‘thing(s)’; no article is needed when speaking in a general sense.
di (preposition)
Links the noun ‘cose’ with the qualifier ‘valore’, forming the phrase ‘cose di valore’ = ‘things of value’.
valore (noun)
Means ‘value’; together with ‘di’ it creates an adjective‑like expression.
🗨In Conversation
Questo cassetto è per cose di valore.
This drawer is for valuable things.
Capisco, mettiamo i gioielli lì.
Got it, let's put the jewelry in there.
✕Common Mistakes
È per le cose di valore.
The article ‘le’ changes the meaning to ‘the specific valuable things’, which is not intended in a generic statement.
È per le oggetti di valore.
‘Oggetti’ is masculine plural, so the article should be ‘gli’ or omitted; also the noun already implies a set, so the article is often dropped.
E per cose di valore.
Missing the accent on ‘È’; without it the word becomes the conjunction ‘e’ (and).
↔Alternatives
È destinato a oggetti di valore.
It is intended for valuable objects.
Serve per oggetti di valore.
It serves for valuable objects.
È per oggetti preziosi.
It's for precious items.
Cultural Tip
In Italian, the generic ‘cose di valore’ is perfectly natural, but when you want to be more specific you’ll often hear ‘oggetti di valore’ or ‘oggetti preziosi’. Adding the definite article (le) makes the phrase refer to a known set of items, so avoid it if you mean ‘any valuable things’ in a general sense.