Paghiamo in sterline.

It comes from pagare, which means to pay.

Paghiamo is the 1st person plural form, so it means we pay or we are paying, depending on context.

Italian often leaves out subject pronouns when they are already clear from the verb ending.

The ending -iamo in paghiamo already tells you the subject is we (noi), so Noi paghiamo in sterline is possible, but usually unnecessary unless you want emphasis.

It is in the present indicative.

In English, that can correspond to:

• we pay
• we are paying

Italian present tense often covers both the simple present and the present continuous, so the exact translation depends on context.

Because pagare is a verb in -care / -gare? Actually, no: pagare ends in -gare, and verbs of this type keep the hard g sound before e and i by adding an h.

So:

• pagare
• pago
• paghi
• paga
• paghiamo

Without the h, the pronunciation would change.

In sterline means in pounds in the sense of using pounds as the currency.

Here in is the preposition used to indicate the currency in which payment is made:

• pagare in euro
• pagare in dollari
• pagare in sterline

So in here is very natural and common.

Because the sentence is talking about payment in pounds as a currency, not about a single pound.

The singular is sterlina:

• una sterlina = one pound

The plural is:

• sterline = pounds

When talking generally about what currency is used, Italian commonly uses the plural:

• in euro
• in dollari
• in sterline

After in when talking about currency, Italian normally does not use an article.

So you say:

• pagare in euro
• pagare in dollari
• pagare in sterline

Not:

• in le sterline

This is just the normal idiomatic pattern for expressing the currency used.

Yes, sterlina / sterline normally refers to the pound sterling, the British currency.

If someone wants to be extra clear, they might say:

• sterline inglesi
• sterline britanniche

But very often just sterline is enough.

You might hear con in some contexts, but pagare in sterline is the more standard way to say pay in pounds when you mean the currency.

Very roughly:

• in sterline = the payment is denominated in pounds
• con sterline = using pounds physically/as the means

In many learner situations, in sterline is the better choice.

A simple pronunciation guide is:

pa-GYA-mo in ster-LEE-neh

A few points:

• ghia in paghiamo has a hard g sound, like in get
• gli / gn rules do not apply here; this is just ghi
• sterline has the stress on li: ster-LI-ne

Yes, in some contexts paghiamo can also function as a first-person plural imperative, meaning let’s pay.

However, in a simple standalone sentence like Paghiamo in sterline, the most natural reading is usually we pay / we are paying in pounds.

Context tells you which meaning is intended.

Not completely. Paghiamo in sterline is the most neutral order, but Italian can move things around for emphasis.

For example:

• In sterline paghiamo = emphasis on the currency
• Noi paghiamo in sterline = emphasis on we

Still, the basic neutral sentence is Paghiamo in sterline.