Learn Italian: A Guide To Learning The Basics of A New Language (2015)
Chapter 7. Shopping
Shopping is one of the ways to immerse yourself in another country’s culture. You can have an enriching experience while shopping in an Italian-speaking place if you know a few useful expressions to buy all the things you need.
You can find nearly all sorts of items in a grandi magazzino (department store) and a variety of stuff in the street markets (mercato) of Italy but if you have to buy something from specialty stores, these phrases will be helpful:
alimentary |
grocery store |
il supermercato |
supermarket |
la pasticceria |
the pastry shop |
il negozio |
the store |
la libreria |
book store |
La ferramenta |
hardware store |
Il negozio di abbigliamento |
clothes shop |
La profumeria |
perfume shop |
La farmacia |
the pharmacy |
La gioielleria |
jewelry shop |
Il negozio di giocattoli |
toy shop |
Il negozio di articoli sportivi |
sports shop |
La macelleria |
butcher’s shop |
Il negozio di scarpe |
shoe shop |
L'ottico |
the optical shop |
Shopping for Clothes
You will not run out of choices in Italy where the people are well-known for their great sense of style and high quality clothing. Many people from other countries travel to Italy just to shop.
You will find the following phrases useful when shopping for clothes:
Quanto costa? |
How much is this? |
Vorrei questo. |
I would like this. |
Vorrei __________ |
I’d like ___________ |
Sto cercando)_______ |
I’m looking for _________. |
Avete ____________? |
Do you have _________? |
Sto solo guardando. |
I’m just looking around. |
Sto solo dando un'occhiata. |
We’re just looking. |
Posso provarla? |
Can I try it on? |
Lo prendo. / Li prendo. |
I’ll take it. / I’ll take them all. |
E' tutto. |
That’s all. |
E' troppo caro |
It’s too expensive. |
Che misura e'? |
What size is it? |
Questa maglia è troppo grande. |
This sweater is too large. |
Vorrei pagare in contanti. |
I want to pay in cash. |
While shopping, the sales assistant will offer to help you in several ways. Here are phrases you might hear from store employees:
Posso aiutarla? |
May I help you? |
Cerca qualcosa? |
What would you like? |
Eccola. |
Here it is. |
Ha bisogno di altro? |
Is that all? |
Firmi qui per favore. |
Please sign here. |
To find the right fit for your clothes, you can use the following descriptions of clothing Sizes (la taglia):
piccolo |
small |
medio |
medium |
grande |
big, large |
largo |
wide |
corto |
short |
lungo |
long |
ho la taglia venti quattro |
I wear size 24 |
stretto |
tight |
il numero di scarpa |
shoe size |
Useful Shop Terms:
soldi |
money |
Offerta special |
son special offer |
I saldi |
sale (bargains) |
L'entrata |
entrance |
L'uscita |
exit |
Orario di aperture |
opening hours |
Aperto |
open |
Chiuso |
closed |
borsa |
bag |
La cassa |
cash desk |
La carta de credito |
credit card |
Grocery Shopping
Most people prefer to go shopping every day to buy fresh meats and produce. While at the supermarket, meatshop, or seafood market, you have to be able to express not just the name of the items but also the quantity and quality you need. You will find the following terms and key phrases of great help if you need to shop at supermarkets or grocery stores.
Sto cercando _____________. |
I’m looking for ______________. |
Prendo ___ kili di ______. |
I'll take number kilos of _______. |
Grocery Items:
cioccolata |
chocolate |
crema |
cream |
formaggio |
cheese |
pane |
bread |
acqua |
water |
vino |
wine |
verdure |
vegetables |
zucchero |
sugar |
fiore |
flower |
Fruits (Frutta)
Mela |
Apple |
Pera |
Pear |
Banana |
Banana |
Arancia |
Orange |
Mandarino |
Mandarin |
Pompelmo |
Grapefruit |
Pesca |
Peach |
Albicocca |
Apricot |
Fragola |
Strawberry |
Ciliegia |
Cherry |
marena |
Black cherry |
Mirtillo |
Blueberry |
Lampone |
Raspberry |
Kiwi |
Kiwi |
Ananas |
Pineapple |
Limone |
Lemon |
Nespola |
Medlar |
Noce di cocco |
Coconut |
Uva |
Grape |
Melagrana |
Pomegranate |
Anguria |
Watermelon |
Melone |
Melon |
Vegetables
melanzana |
aubergine |
carota |
Carrot |
sedano |
celery |
radicchio |
chicory |
aglio |
garlic |
lattuga |
lettuce |
cipolla |
onion |
prezzemolo |
parsley |
zucca |
pumpkin |
ravanello |
radish |
pomodoro |
tomato |
zucchina |
zucchino |