Italian for markets and shopping: prices, sizes and false friends
Italian markets and shops come with their own etiquette and a set of words that look reassuringly like English and mean something else entirely. These are the phrases for prices, sizes, and the traps worth knowing before you point at something and ask for it by the wrong name.
Asking prices
Quanto costa questo?
How much is this?
C'è uno sconto?
Is there a discount?
È caro.
That's expensive.
Lo vendete all'ingrosso?
Do you sell it wholesale?
grosso relates to big/bulk (all'ingrosso, wholesale), not gross. Disgusting is schifoso or disgustoso.
Questo è il prezzo finale?
Is this the final price?
Sizes and materials
Avete una taglia più grande?
Do you have a bigger size?
Posso provarlo?
Can I try it on?
Dov'è il camerino?
Where's the fitting room?
Questo tessuto è di seta?
Is this fabric silk?
tessuto is fabric. Fabbrica means factory, not fabric.
Dove trovo una libreria?
Where can I find a bookshop?
libreria means bookshop. A library, to borrow books, is biblioteca.
Paying and errands
C'è un grande magazzino qui vicino?
Is there a department store nearby?
magazzino means warehouse or department store. A magazine to read is rivista.
Posso pagare con la carta?
Can I pay by card?
Non mi annoia affatto, continui pure.
This doesn't bore me at all, keep going.
annoiare means to bore, not to annoy. To annoy or bother someone is infastidire.
Tenga il resto.
Keep the change.
Può fare un pacco regalo?
Could you gift wrap it?
Dove trovo uno spaccio di fabbrica?
Where can I find a factory outlet?
False friend traps
fabbrica looks like fabric, but means factory
Fabbrica di scarpe is a shoe factory. The cloth itself is tessuto.
libreria looks like library, but means bookshop
Vado in libreria means I'm going to the bookshop, to buy books. To borrow books for free, go to a biblioteca.
magazzino looks like magazine, but means warehouse, department store
Un grande magazzino is a department store. The reading material is rivista.
grosso looks like gross, but means big, thick, bulk
All'ingrosso means wholesale, in bulk. Gross, in the disgusting sense, is schifoso or disgustoso.
annoiare looks like annoy, but means to bore
Questo film mi annoia means this film bores me. To annoy or irritate someone is infastidire.
FAQ
Common questions
Short answers to what people ask most about this situation.
Can I bargain at Italian markets?
At open-air mercati, yes, especially on clothing, leather goods and souvenirs, though food stalls generally have fixed prices. In fixed-price shops (negozi) with price tags, haggling isn't expected.
What are the outlet villages Italy is known for?
Large factory outlet centers like The Mall near Florence or Serravalle near Milan sell past-season designer goods at a discount. Spaccio (outlet) is the word to look for on signs.
What sizes should I expect in Italian shops?
Italian sizing runs on its own numbering system, different from both US and UK sizes, so trying things on (provare) rather than trusting the number on the tag is worth the extra few minutes.
Do small shops close for lunch?
Many do, especially outside big cities, typically from around 1pm to 3:30 or 4pm (the riposo), so plan errands around the morning or late afternoon.