Dialogo al bar: ordinare piadina, insalata e caffè

What does “Che cosa le do?” mean in Italian?

Walk up to an Italian counter and the person serving you may ask “Che cosa le do?” Word for word it means “What do I give you?”, but it’s really a warm, polite way to say “What can I get you?” The small word “le” means “to you” in the respectful form people use with strangers, so the question sounds courteous instead of pushy. A friendly, everyday opener at a bar or shop.

The exact opening line is “Che cosa le do?”, the first thing said as the customer steps up to order. “Do” is the “I” form of the verb “dare” (to give), and “le” is the polite “to you”, tied to the formal “Lei”. Among friends you’d switch to the casual form: “Che cosa ti do?” You’ll also hear plainer counter phrases like “Mi dica” (“tell me”) or “Cosa prende?” (“what are you having?”). From here the order rolls on simply: “Prendo un’insalata… Un’acqua minerale gassata.”