Italian Phrase
Lascialo qui per ora.
Meaning
‘Lascialo qui per ora’ tells someone to leave an object in the current spot, but only temporarily. The speaker expects the item might be moved later, but for the moment it should stay where it is.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to ask a friend, colleague, or service person to put something down in a specific place for the time being – e.g., a bag on a table, a suitcase in the hallway, or a document on a desk.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lascialoquiperora
Imperative + Direct Object Pronoun
In Italian, the imperative of a verb can attach a direct object pronoun directly after it (e.g., lascia + lo → lascialo).
Pronoun Placement
When using the second‑person singular informal imperative, the pronoun follows the verb without a hyphen.
Per ora = for now
The adverbial phrase ‘per ora’ expresses a temporary state, similar to ‘for now’ or ‘for the moment’ in English.
Qui vs. Là
‘Qui’ means ‘here’ (close to the speaker), while ‘là’ means ‘there’ (farther away).
🗨In Conversation
Posso mettere il libro sul tavolo?
Can I put the book on the table?
Sì, lascialo qui per ora.
Yes, leave it here for now.
✕Common Mistakes
Lascialo qui ad ora.
‘Ad ora’ is not used in Italian; the correct adverbial phrase is ‘per ora.’
Lascialo qui per il ora.
‘Ora’ is a feminine noun, so the article must be omitted; say ‘per ora,’ not ‘per il ora.’
Lascialo qui ora.
Without ‘per,’ the sentence loses the sense of temporariness.
↔Alternatives
Mettilo qui per il momento.
Put it here for the moment.
Tienilo qui per ora.
Keep it here for now.
Lo lasci qui per ora.
Leave it here for now. (formal)
Cultural Tip
In everyday Italian the informal imperative (tu) is common among friends and family, so ‘lascialo’ sounds natural in casual conversation. In a formal setting you would use the third‑person singular form: ‘Lo lasci qui per ora.’ Also, ‘per ora’ is a spoken, slightly informal way to say ‘for now’; in written or more formal speech you might prefer ‘per il momento.’