Questo formato occupa meno spazio.

Because formato is a masculine singular noun in Italian, so the demonstrative must match it.

• questo = this (masculine singular)
• questa = this (feminine singular)

So:

• questo formato = this format
• questa pagina = this page

Italian words that refer to nouns usually agree in gender and number.

In this sentence, formato means format or sometimes file format/layout format, depending on context.

It is a direct equivalent of English format in many situations, especially in technical, digital, or design contexts.

Examples:

• Questo formato è più pratico. = This format is more practical.
• Preferisco un altro formato. = I prefer another format.

Occupa is the third person singular form of the verb occupare.

Here it means takes up or occupies.

So:

• occupare spazio = to take up space
• occupa meno spazio = it takes up less space

This is very common in Italian when talking about physical space, storage space, memory, room on a page, and so on.

Because Italian normally does not require subject pronouns when the subject is already clear from the verb form or context.

In English, you usually need:

• It takes up less space

In Italian, the subject can be left out:

• Occupa meno spazio

But here the subject is actually stated:

• Questo formato occupa meno spazio

So questo formato already means this format, and no extra word like it is needed.

Because meno is the normal word for less when comparing quantity.

• meno spazio = less space
• più spazio = more space

This is the most natural way to say it in Italian.

Minore does exist and can mean smaller/lesser, but in this sentence meno spazio is much more idiomatic.

Compare:

• Questo formato occupa meno spazio. = This format takes up less space.
• Questo formato è più piccolo. = This format is smaller.

The first focuses on how much space it uses.
The second focuses on its size.

Because space is often treated as an uncountable idea in both Italian and English.

So Italian says:

• meno spazio = less space

not usually:

• meno spazi

You would use the plural spazi only in specific contexts where you really mean separate spaces:

• Gli spazi del parcheggio = the parking spaces
• Gli spazi tra le parole = the spaces between words

But here spazio means space in general, so singular is correct.

After words like meno, Italian often uses the noun without an article when speaking generally.

So:

• meno spazio = less space
• meno tempo = less time
• meno denaro = less money

This is very natural and common.

If you add an article, the meaning usually becomes more specific:

• meno dello spazio disponibile = less of the available space

But in your sentence, spazio is general, so no article is needed.

It is the present indicative of occupare.

Conjugation:

• io occupo
• tu occupi
• lui/lei occupa
• noi occupiamo
• voi occupate
• loro occupano

In the sentence, questo formato occupa meno spazio, the subject is questo formato, which is third person singular, so the verb is occupa.

Not always. Sometimes yes, but often the most natural English translation is to take up.

For example:

• Questo file occupa molto spazio. = This file takes up a lot of space.
• Il divano occupa troppo spazio. = The sofa takes up too much space.

If you translated it as occupies, it might be understandable, but in everyday English takes up space is often more natural.

So when you see occupare spazio, think:

• to take up space

The normal word order here is:

Questo formato + occupa + meno spazio

That is: subject + verb + object/complement

This is the most neutral and natural order.

Italian can sometimes change word order for emphasis, but in ordinary usage this version is best:

• Questo formato occupa meno spazio.

If you changed the order, it might sound marked or literary rather than neutral.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

KWE-stoh for-MAH-toh ok-KOO-pah MEH-noh SPAT-tsyoh

A few useful points:

• qu in questo sounds like kw
• cc in occupa is a strong k sound
• z in spazio sounds like ts
• stress usually falls on:
  • QUÈ-sto
  • for-MÀ-to
  • oc-CÙ-pa
  • MÈ-no
  • SPÀ-zio

Listening to native pronunciation is especially helpful for spazio, since the zi sound is not exactly like English.