The phrase “for you” appears in gifts, messages, offers, and everyday conversation. Italian changes the pronoun depending on whether you are speaking to one person informally, one person formally, or a group.
Quick answer:
“For you” is usually per te for one person informally, per Lei for one person formally, or per voi for two or more people.
How to Say “For You” in Italian
The most common informal singular translation is per te. Use it with a friend, family member, child, or anyone you address with tu. For one person you address formally, use per Lei, with a capital L often used in writing to distinguish the formal pronoun. When speaking to two or more people, use per voi.
The preposition per means “for” here and does not change for gender or number. The pronoun after it shows who the phrase refers to: te, formal Lei, or plural voi.
Choosing the Right Form
- per te — for you (one person, informal)
- per Lei — for you (one person, formal)
- per voi — for you (two or more people)
- è per te — it is for you (informal)
- è per Lei — it is for you (formal)
- è per voi — it is for you all
Choose based on your relationship and the number of people. Per te sounds friendly and familiar; per Lei is respectful in a formal setting, such as speaking to a customer or someone you have just met. Use per voi when you are addressing a group.
Example Sentences
- Questo regalo è per te. — This gift is for you. (informal)
- Ho preparato un caffè per Lei. — I made a coffee for you. (formal)
- Abbiamo comprato i biglietti per voi. — We bought the tickets for you all.
- C’è un messaggio per te. — There is a message for you.
- Questa lettera è per voi. — This letter is for you. (plural)
- Il tavolo vicino alla finestra è per Lei. — The table by the window is for you. (formal)
- Ho una sorpresa per te. — I have a surprise for you.
When handing something to a friend, you can simply say Questo è per te (“This is for you”). In a restaurant or shop, use the formal form if you are addressing a customer politely.
How Per Works
Per is followed by a stressed pronoun: me (me), te (you, singular informal), lui/lei (him/her), noi (us), voi (you plural), and loro (them). Thus, “for me” is per me, while “for you” may be per te, per Lei, or per voi.
Do not put the subject pronoun tu after per. The correct phrase is per te, not per tu. In formal speech, Lei is the pronoun form used after the preposition.
Pronunciation
Per te is pronounced approximately pehr TEH, with two clear syllables and stress on te. Per voi sounds like pehr VOY. In per Lei, the ei sounds like “ay”: pehr LAY. Keep the vowels clear and avoid adding an extra syllable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tap a question below to see the answer.
What is the informal way to say “for you” in Italian?
Use per te when speaking to one person informally.
How do you say “for you” formally?
Use per Lei for one person you address formally.
How do you say “for you all” in Italian?
Say per voi when speaking to more than one person.
Is it per te or per tu?
The correct phrase is per te. After a preposition, use the stressed pronoun te, not the subject form tu.
Does per change for a male or female person?
No. The preposition per does not change. Choose the pronoun based on formality and number instead.
Summary
Use per te for one person informally, per Lei for one person formally, and per voi for a group. The preposition per stays the same; the pronoun changes to fit the person or people you are addressing.
