Italian Phrase
Cosa prendi?
Meaning
Literally “What do you take?”, this phrase is the casual way to ask someone what they would like to have – most often used when ordering food or drinks, or when someone is about to pick something up.
When to use
Use Cosa prendi? at a café, bar, or restaurant when you want to know a friend’s order, or when you’re handing out items and need to know each person’s choice. It’s informal, so reserve it for peers, family, or familiar service staff.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cosaprendi?
Cosa (interrogative pronoun)
Cosa means “what” and is used to ask about an object, action, or choice.
prendi (present indicative)
prendi is the 2nd‑person singular present form of prendere “to take, to have”. In everyday speech it also conveys a near‑future meaning, like “what will you have?”
Subject omission
Italian often drops the subject pronoun; the verb ending –i already tells us the speaker is “tu”.
🗨In Conversation
Cosa prendi?
What will you have?
Prendo un cappuccino, grazie.
I’ll have a cappuccino, thanks.
✕Common Mistakes
Cosa prende?
prende is the 3rd‑person singular form; the correct 2nd‑person form is prendi.
Che prendi?
The interrogative pronoun must be “cosa” or “che cosa”; “che” alone does not work here.
Cosa prendi tu?
Adding the subject pronoun “tu” is grammatically fine but sounds redundant in casual speech; native speakers usually omit it.
↔Alternatives
Che cosa prendi?
What are you taking?
Cosa vuoi?
What do you want?
Che desideri?
What would you like?
Cosa desidera?
What would you like? (formal)
Cultural Tip
In Italian cafés, the verb prendere is the go‑to word for ordering drinks (prendere un caffè, un tè, un aperitivo). When speaking to waitstaff you can also say “Cosa desidera?” for a more polite tone. Remember that “cosa” is perfectly natural in informal settings, but “che cosa” sounds slightly more formal and is common in written Italian.