Italian Phrase
Pesa 5 libbre.
Meaning
It means ‘It weighs five pounds.’ The sentence is a simple statement of weight, useful when you need to give a quick measurement in pounds rather than kilograms.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are describing the weight of an object for an audience that uses the imperial system – for example, when talking about luggage, groceries, or recipes that list ingredients in pounds.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Pesa5libbre
pesare (Pesa)
‘Pesa’ is the third‑person singular present of the verb ‘pesare’ (to weigh). It is used for both ‘it’ and ‘he/she’ when stating weight.
Numerals
When spoken, the numeral ‘5’ is read as ‘cinque’; in writing you can keep the digit or write the word.
Libbra (plural libbre)
‘Libbra’ is a feminine noun meaning ‘pound’; the plural is ‘libbre’. It follows the regular feminine plural –e ending.
Agreement
Because ‘libbra’ is feminine, any adjective that modifies it must also be feminine (e.g., ‘una libbra leggera’).
🗨In Conversation
Quanto pesa la valigia?
How much does the suitcase weigh?
Pesa 5 libbre.
It weighs five pounds.
✕Common Mistakes
È 5 libbre.
Use the verb ‘pesare’ (pesa) instead of ‘essere’ (è) to talk about weight.
Pesa 5 libbra.
‘Libbra’ is singular; for five you need the plural ‘libbre’.
Pesare 5 libbre.
The infinitive ‘pesare’ cannot be used as a statement; you need the conjugated form ‘pesa’.
↔Alternatives
Ha un peso di 5 libbre.
It has a weight of five pounds.
Pesa cinque libbre.
It weighs five pounds.
Il peso è 5 libbre.
The weight is five pounds.
Cultural Tip
Italy officially uses the metric system, so kilograms are the default unit for weight. Mentioning pounds (‘libbre’) often signals a foreign context – such as an English‑speaking customer, a recipe imported from the US, or a sport like boxing where pounds are standard. Older generations in some regions still use ‘libbre’ in everyday speech, but younger speakers may find it a bit old‑fashioned.