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What is the word for when someone gives you something for free instead of you paying for it?
For example: Some shopkeeper is about to close his shop, and you catch him just in the nick of time, you get something(anything), nonetheless he's so hurried that he lets you take it for free.
I know it's kind of a bizarre example and also a rarity, but it's the only thing I could come up with.
Much obliged.
The shopkeeper gave it to you gratis.
Derived from the Latin "as a kindness".
Then there's a comp, which is likely an abbreviated version of the word complimentary, meaning free of charge.
In Las Vegas, a casino might "comp" a room for a high roller, since the cost of the room would pale in comparison to the high roller's losses at the gambling tables!
The casino: "We comped Mr. Bigbucks a suite of rooms, since he's a big spender, and a big loser!"
Or your example:
Shopkeeper: "OK, buddy, I'll comp you the ______ this time, but next time, please come a little earlier, and not at the last minute."
From en.wiktionary, freebie means “(informal) Something which is free; a giveaway or handout”. Thus, the item given you is a freebie; it was given to you gratis or on the house, as mentioned in previous answers, or free of charge.
If you had purchased something, and another item were thrown in for free, the term lagniappe could be used. From en.wiktionary, lagniappe means “An extra or unexpected gift or benefit, such as that given to a customer when they purchase something else”.
Gratis, as Oldcat has said.
Or the merchant gave it to you on the house, a common idiom meaning "no charge."
Or he could let you have the item at no charge.
Or as a free sample, but this fits the context the least.
Note to donate something does not fit the context, in AmE.
On the House The shopkeeper or the bartender might say: "Forget it; it's on the house." "Forget it" means forget about paying; "on the house" means that the establishment will absorb the cost. To either a shopkeeper or bartender, you say "Thanks, I appreciate this"; you tip the bartender more than you would tip him/her if you paid for the drink.
"If you have something on the house, it is given to you free by a business. [example] All the drinks were on the house." Cambridge Dictionaries Online
As a single word, it can be called a giveaway also. Both the thing that is given away and the act of giving away.
something given away at no charge, especially a premium.
an act or instance of giving something away.
In Korea if you buy something and they throw something extra in for free they call it 'Service.' Like I bought a camera and the guy gave me a case and a battery and said 'Service, service'
If someone gave you something for free, it's a donation. The verb is donate. Or gift.
