Italian Phrase
Te lo possiamo pesare.
Meaning
Literally, 'We can weigh it for you.' It is used when a shop assistant offers to put an item on the scale for the customer, emphasizing the service being provided.
When to use
Use this sentence in a market, butcher shop, grocery store, or any place where items are weighed. It is informal because of the clitic 'te', so it fits casual interactions with friends or familiar customers.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Telopossiamopesare
Clitic pronouns (te + lo)
In Italian, indirect and direct object clitics are placed before the verb; 'te' (to you) + 'lo' (it) become 'te lo' in informal speech.
Verb + infinitive construction
'Possiamo' (we can) is followed by the infinitive 'pesare' to express ability.
Subject‑verb agreement
'Possiamo' is the first‑person plural present of 'potere', matching the implied subject 'noi' (we).
Pronoun order vs. enclitic form
When the infinitive follows a modal verb, the clitics stay before the modal verb (te lo possiamo pesare) rather than attaching to the infinitive (pesartelo).
🗨In Conversation
Scusi, può pesare questo per me?
Excuse me, can you weigh this for me?
Certo, te lo possiamo pesare subito.
Sure, we can weigh it for you right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Ti lo possiamo pesare.
The indirect object pronoun for 'you' (informal) is 'te' before another clitic; 'ti lo' is non‑standard.
Possiamo pesarlo per te.
When a modal verb like 'possiamo' precedes an infinitive, the clitics stay with the modal verb, not the infinitive.
Possiamo pesare te lo.
Clitic order is fixed; the pronouns must come before the conjugated verb.
↔Alternatives
Possiamo pesartelo.
We can weigh it for you.
Possiamo pesare questo per te.
We can weigh this for you.
Lo pesiamo per te.
We weigh it for you.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, shop assistants often use the formal 'lei' with customers they don't know well: 'Le possiamo pesare?' If the customer is a regular or a friend, the informal 'te' is acceptable. Also, many markets still use traditional balance scales, so the phrase can be heard alongside the sound of the scale clicking.