Italian Phrase
Mi dai una scatola per portare via?
Meaning
Literally, “Will you give me a box to take away?” It is a polite request, often used in cafés or restaurants when you want a container for leftovers.
When to use
Use this sentence when you’re at a restaurant, pizzeria, or take‑away shop and you’d like the staff to hand you a box so you can pack the remaining food and go.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Midaiunascatolaperportarevia
Indirect object pronoun (Mi)
‘Mi’ is the first‑person singular indirect object pronoun, meaning ‘to me’ or ‘for me’, placed before the verb.
Present tense of ‘dare’ (dai)
‘Dai’ is the second‑person singular (tu) present indicative of ‘dare’ – ‘you give’.
Indefinite article (una)
‘Una’ is the feminine singular indefinite article, used before a feminine noun that begins with a consonant.
Purpose clause with ‘per’ + infinitive
‘Per’ + infinitive expresses purpose: ‘to/for …’, here ‘per portare’ = ‘to take’.
Verb ‘portare’ + adverb ‘via’
‘Portare via’ is a separable verb phrase meaning ‘to take away, to remove’.
🗨In Conversation
Mi dai una scatola per portare via?
Can you give me a box to take away?
Certo, ecco la scatola. Vuoi anche una forchetta?
Sure, here’s the box. Do you also want a fork?
✕Common Mistakes
Mi dai una scatola per portare via
Missing the question mark makes it sound like a statement rather than a request.
Mi dai una scatola per portare via?
Using ‘dai’ with a stranger can be too informal; switch to ‘mi dà’ or ‘mi può dare’ for politeness.
Mi dai una scatola per portare fuori?
‘Portare via’ is correct, but some learners mistakenly say ‘portare fuori’, which means ‘to go outside’ not ‘to take away’.
↔Alternatives
Mi può dare una scatola per portare via?
Could you give me a box to take away? (more formal)
Potrei avere una scatola per portare via?
May I have a box for take‑out?
Mi dai una confezione da asporto?
Can you give me a take‑away container?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, asking for a ‘scatola per portare via’ is common in pizzerias and trattorias. It’s polite to say ‘per favore’ or use the conditional ‘potrei’ for extra courtesy, especially in more formal settings. Remember that many restaurants charge a small fee for the container, so be prepared for that.