SpeeekDownload on the App Store
Back to At The Restaurant

Italian Phrase

Scusa, quanto manca per il nostro cibo?

/ˈsku.za ˈkwan.to ˈman.ka per il ˈnos.tro ˈtʃi.bo/
Meaning"Excuse me, how much longer until our food?"
💡

Meaning

A courteous way to ask the staff how much longer you’ll have to wait for the food you ordered. It literally translates to “Excuse me, how much is left for our food?”. The phrase conveys both patience and a gentle reminder.

🎯

When to use

Use this sentence in a restaurant, café, or any dining setting when you’re waiting for a dish that you and your companions ordered. It works well with waiters you’ve already spoken to, and it’s polite enough to avoid sounding demanding.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Scusa,quantomancaperilnostrocibo?

1

Scusa

A polite interjection meaning “excuse me”. Use “Scusa” with friends or peers, and “Scusi” in formal settings.

2

quanto

Interrogative adverb meaning “how much/how long”. It asks for a quantity or duration.

3

manca

Third‑person singular of the verb *mancare* (to be missing, to be left). Here it means “is left / remains”.

4

per + article + noun

The preposition *per* introduces the goal or reference point: “for the …”. Combined with *il nostro cibo* it specifies “our food”.

5

nostro

Possessive adjective meaning “our”. It agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.

🗨In Conversation

A

Scusa, quanto manca per il nostro cibo?

Excuse me, how much longer until our food arrives?

Ci vorrà ancora cinque minuti, sto controllando in cucina.

It’ll be about five more minutes, I’m checking with the kitchen.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Scusi, quanto manca per il nostro cibo?

    Use *Scusi* only in formal contexts; with peers or a familiar waiter *Scusa* is more natural.

  • Scusa, quanto manca di il nostro cibo?

    The preposition *di* is incorrect here; the correct construction is *per il nostro cibo*.

  • Scusa, quanto tempo manca per il nostro cibo?

    While not wrong, adding *tempo* makes the sentence longer; the shorter *quanto manca* is more idiomatic.

↔Alternatives

  • Scusa, quanto tempo manca per il nostro cibo?

    Excuse me, how much time is left for our food?

  • Scusa, quando arriverà il nostro cibo?

    Excuse me, when will our food arrive?

  • Scusi, è quasi pronto il nostro piatto?

    Excuse me, is our dish almost ready?

it

Cultural Tip

In Italy, dining is a relaxed social ritual, so it’s normal to wait a bit for your meal. However, a brief, polite inquiry like this is perfectly acceptable, especially if you’ve been waiting for a long time. Remember to keep a friendly tone and a smile – the staff will appreciate the courtesy.