Lasciare and partire both mean "to leave." So, what's the difference, if any? 

Actually, there is a big difference, especially in grammatical terms. Lasciare is a transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object. You leave a place, a thing, a person. Other meanings are: "to abandon," "to leave behind," "to let," "to let go," or "to allow."

Tanto anche se mi cacciano non mi importa, mia madre vuole che lasci Milano.

In any case, if they kick me out, I don't care. My mother wants me to leave Milan.

Captions 5-6, La compagnia del cigno EP 6 - Part 10

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When forming compound tenses, the auxiliary verb avere (to have) is used. 

Tu hai finalmente lasciato quel tuo inutile fidanzato, e tua madre ed io ne siamo stati felici per te.

You finally left that useless boyfriend of yours and your mother and I were happy about that for you.

Captions 65-67, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1 EP6 Buio - Part 11

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When you want someone to get off your back, either physically or figuratively, lasciare is a good verb to use.

Ma come ti... -Guarda che ti posso pagare... -Lasciami!... -te l'ho detto. Lasciami!

But how... -Look, I can pay you... -Let me go!... -I told you. Let me go!

Captions 24-25, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP5 Misericordia - Part 28

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But this expression can be expanded, too: 

Ma come ti sei vestita? -Ehi, lasciami stare.

But how did you dress? -Hey, leave me be.

But how did you dress? -Hey, leave me alone. 

Captions 40-41, La compagnia del cigno EP 5 - Part 15

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Lasciatemi stare!

Let (plural) me be!

Caption 13, La compagnia del cigno EP 6 - Part 10

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Here's another common way to say "leave me alone."  

Lasciami in pace.

Leave me alone (literally, "leave me in peace"). 

Caption 80, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 30

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Of course, in English, when we say "leave me alone," we don't mean literally "alone," we mean, "stop bothering me," or "get off my back." 

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Attenzione!  We can also use the reflexive form of lasciare: lasciarsi, which can either mean to let yourself do something, as in the following example:

La gente quando mangia, si lascia andare, non tiene difese e io la guardo.

When people eat, they let themselves go, they let their guard down and I observe them.

Captions 35-36, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP2 Rabbia - Part 4

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Note that when we use the reflexive form lasciarsi, we use the auxiliary essere (to be).

Da quando a Cappellini era morta la moglie, si era lasciato andare in un modo decisamente eccessivo.

Since Cappellini's wife died, he had let himself go in such a way [that was] decidedly excessive.

Captions 10-12, Provaci ancora prof! S2E3 Dietro la porta - Part 16

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We can use lasciarsi reciprocally, as when a couple breaks up. 

No, ci siamo lasciati.

No, we broke up.

Caption 91, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP3 La terza vittima - Part 4

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Partire, on the other hand, is an intransitive verb. No direct object here. 

Devo partire con lei.

I have to leave with her.

Caption 7, La compagnia del cigno EP 6 - Part 10

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Purtroppo martedì noi partiamo per Londra.

Unfortunately, on Tuesday we leave for London.

Caption 11, Sposami EP 3 - Part 6

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We use the verb partire to mean "to start," as in a car not starting:

Problemi, prof? -E sì, non parte.

Problems, Prof? -Yes, it [the car] won't start.

Captions 53-54, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP2 Doppio imprevisto - Part 3

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But we also use it when we want to start doing something, such as a race, a competition, a discussion, or when we start rehearsing a musical piece together. 

Partiamo con gli assaggi dei vostri arancini.

We'll begin with tasting your rice balls.

Caption 2, JAMS S1 EP4 - Part 3

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We hope you have a better idea about the difference between lasciare and partire. This is a partial picture, as both of these verbs are used in various situations, with nuanced meanings. Write to us with your questions or comments. We love to hear from you: [email protected].

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When you buy something in a shop in Italy, one question you might get is whether you would like a bag. But if you think the only word for bag is un sacchetto (the diminutive of un sacco), you're mistaken.  Of course, people will understand you if you ask for un sacchetto, but you might hear other words, as well. These can vary according to region or personal preference. So let's take a look. 

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First of all, let's look at sacco and sacchetto.

Ma che stai comprando un sacco di patate?

But what, are you buying a sack of potatoes?

Caption 47, Un Figlio a tutti i costi film - Part 12

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It's good to know that while un sacco can mean a literal sack — containing something like potatoes, potting soil, animal feed, charcoal, kindling, etc., the noun un sacco is commonly used in a figurative sense to mean "a whole lot." It's used for things as well as situations or feelings. 

Ti ho appena fatto riparare e ho anche speso un sacco di soldi.

I just had you repaired and I even spent a bunch of money.

Captions 50-51, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP2 Doppio imprevisto - Part 3

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Io mi sto divertendo un sacco.

I'm having a lot of fun.

Caption 35, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP2 Doppio imprevisto - Part 22

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Ciao, scusami, io ho visto un sacco di gente.

Hi, excuse me, I've seen a whole lot of people.

Caption 1, Passeggiando per Roma per Roma - Part 2

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And now we come to sacchetto.

Ho pulito la pistola dalle impronte, l'ho messa in un sacchetto di plastica insieme al proiettile

I cleaned the handgun of fingerprints, I put it in a plastic bag together with the bullet,

Captions 22-23, Provaci ancora prof! S2E5 Vita da cani - Part 9

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In certain parts of Italy, such as Emilia-Romagna, un sacchetto is a paper bag, but una sportina is a plastic bag. And nowadays, bags are not free in supermarkets and many shops.

Here is another word for "bag," the kind of bag you will get in a shop or supermarket. It generally refers to a rather small bag.

Vuole una busta?

Do you want a bag?

Caption 16, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S2 EP1 Cuccioli - Part 7

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Busta is an interesting word because busta is also "envelope." But it also refers to a bag, either plastic or paper. If the bag is small, it might be referred to as una bustina. But bustina can also refer to a packet, such as for dried yeast, or tea bags: una bustina di tè.

Duecentocinquanta grammi di farina, io vi consiglio di usare lo zero, una bustina di lievito per dolci,

Two hundred and fifty grams of flour, I advise you to use "zero," one packet of baking powder for desserts,

Captions 1-3, La linea verticale EP8 - Part 7

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The noun borsa has various meanings, including handbag, bag, stock exchange (with a capital B), and scholarship (borsa di studio).

Dammi la mia borsa, subito. Non è tua, è di mamma.

Give me my bag, right now. It's not yours, it's Mom's.

Captions 50-51, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 29

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Instead of saying either valigia or bagaglio, it's common to use le borse, similarly to English. 

Datemi le borse così me le porto in albergo. -Ah, sì, sì e il casco.

Give me your bags, that way I will take them to the hotel. -Ah, yes, yes, and the helmet.

Caption 69, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP4 Maltempo - Part 9

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Le borse can also mean, generally, all the shopping bags you bring home from the supermarket. 

A man, instead of carrying a handbag, might carry un borsello.  It's usually a tracolla (with a shoulder strap).

Se hai smarrito un borsello, l'abbiamo trovato noi, ma è vuoto. Se lo vuoi, te lo vieni a riprendere, sennò lo buttiamo.

If you lost a shoulder bag, we found it, but it's empty. If you want it, come and get it, otherwise, we'll throw it out.

Captions 42-43, Ma che ci faccio qui! Un film di Francesco Amato - Part 6

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When you do sports or go to the gym, you might have un borsone for your change of clothes.

Solo Massimo, l'autore del gol, se ne sta davanti alla sua macchina nel parcheggio a cercare nel borsone il caricabatterie.

Only Massimo, the author of the goal, is standing in front of his car in the parking lot, looking in his duffel bag for his battery charger.

Captions 63-65, Fulvio Benelli Crimine Infinito, romanzo - Part 3

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The closest cognate to "baggage" is bagaglio, so it's easy to remember.  

Ma tutto qui il tuo bagaglio? No, no, no, il resto arriverà.

But is this all your luggage? No, no, no, the rest will come.

Captions 18-19, Il Commissario Manara S1EP1 - Un delitto perfetto - Part 3

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 Some English speakers use the French word "valise" for "suitcase." "Valise" is a cognate of valigia. 

Aiutami a chiudere 'sta [questa] valigia, va'.

Help me shut this suitcase, come on.

Caption 47, Volare - La grande storia di Domenico Modugno Ep. 1 - Part 4

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Una valigetta could be a small suitcase, but it commonly refers to a briefcase.  

Sei riuscita a vedere che c'è nella valigetta? Un mucchio di soldi. Dobbiamo agire al più presto, OK?

Did you manage to see what's in the briefcase? A bunch of money. We have to act as soon as possible, OK?

Captions 40-41, La Ladra EP. 8 - Il momento giusto - Part 6

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Thanks for reading. Perhaps we've given you more than you wanted or needed to know about bags, but you can pick the words you think you might need. If you search a word on the videos page and look at the list of instances of it, you'll get a feel for how these words are used in Italian. Write to us at [email protected]. 

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