{"id":70548,"date":"2020-09-14T20:42:04","date_gmt":"2020-09-15T00:42:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/shopping-in-italian\/"},"modified":"2025-06-13T02:55:42","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T06:55:42","slug":"shopping-in-italian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/italian\/shopping-in-italian\/","title":{"rendered":"Shopping in Italian: 24+ Useful Words and Phrases"},"content":{"rendered":"

From mouthwatering displays at Italian eateries<\/a>\u00a0to high-fashion clothing stores<\/a>, there\u2019s a type of store that fits your every need.<\/p>\n

But to shop like a true Italian, you need to know the right vocabulary for any shopping situation that you might find yourself in.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re trying to find the right dress size or want to pay by credit card, knowing how to communicate effectively with Italians is essential.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, we’re here to help you navigate your Italian shopping experience<\/strong>, one step at a time.<\/p>\n

Before you know it, you\u2019ll be making your way from store to store like a true local.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Key Italian Shopping Phrases<\/h2>\n

First, we\u2019ll take a look at some of the most common shopping phrases to have in your Italian language toolkit.<\/p>\n

Here are the top phrases to master and listen out for to prepare for that shopping trip in Italy.<\/p>\n

Sto cercando…<\/em> \u2014 I’m looking for…<\/h3>\n

If you’re looking for something specific while shopping, you’ll need to communicate your needs to a salesperson.<\/p>\n

The best way to convey this is by simply saying Sto cercando <\/em>followed by the item you need. For example:<\/p>\n

Sto cercando una gonna nera.
\n<\/em>(I’m looking for a black skirt.)<\/p>\n

Ho bisogno di\u2026<\/em> \u2014 I need\u2026<\/h3>\n

This phrase communicates the same idea as sto cercando, <\/em>but it\u00a0conveys a more urgent need to the person you’re speaking with. Here’s an example:<\/p>\n

Ho bisogno di un libro di filosofia.
\n<\/em>(I need a book about philosophy.)<\/p>\n

Mi scusi<\/em> \u2014 Excuse me (formal)<\/h3>\n

Always be sure to approach salespeople by saying mi scusi<\/em>\u00a0before you make your request:<\/p>\n

Mi scusi, pu\u00f2 aiutarmi a trovare una cosa?
\n<\/em>(Excuse me, can you help me find something?)<\/p>\n

Quanto costa\/costano?<\/em> \u2014 How much does it\/do they cost?<\/h3>\n

In some cases, you may not be able to see the price of an item before you ring it up at the register.<\/p>\n

If you ever find yourself in one of these situations, it’s helpful to know how to ask a clerk how much that item costs. For example:<\/p>\n

Quanto costano queste scarpe?
\n<\/em>(How much do these shoes cost?)<\/p>\n

Vorrei restituire questo, per favore.<\/em> \u2014 I\u2019d like to return this, please.<\/h3>\n

Sometimes, you’re just not satisfied with a recent purchase you made. It’s vital to know the correct phrasing when you have to return a product you’re unhappy with.<\/p>\n

No matter what type of item you plan to give back, you can simply say Vorrei restituire questo, per favore.<\/em><\/p>\n

Che taglia \u00e8?<\/em> \u2014 What size is it?<\/h3>\n

When you’re shopping for clothes, finding the right size is just as important as choosing a style that matches your tastes.<\/p>\n

To ask a clerk what size an article of clothing is, just say che taglia \u00e8?<\/em><\/p>\n

Lo prendo, grazie.<\/em> \u2014 I\u2019ll take this, thank you.<\/h3>\n

After much deliberation, you’ve finally settled on a purchase. In this case, you need to let the salesperson know that you’ve made your choice.<\/p>\n

Lo prendo, grazie <\/em>is a straightforward way to communicate your needs.<\/p>\n

Posso aiutarla?<\/em> \u2014 May I help you? (formal)<\/h3>\n

You’ll likely come across this common question when you’re walking around a store in Italy. Notice that this phrase uses the formal register, where aiutarla<\/em> is used instead of aiutarti.<\/em><\/p>\n

If you don’t need any assistance when asked this question, you can simply respond with “No, grazie”\u00a0<\/em>(No, thank you) or “Sto solo guardando”<\/em> (I’m just looking).<\/p>\n

Come vorrebbe pagare?<\/em> \u2014 How would you like to pay?<\/h3>\n

In most Italian stores, you’ll have the option to pay with contanti <\/em>(cash) or\u00a0carta di credito<\/em> (credit card).<\/p>\n

You can respond with either of these options if a cashier asks you this question.<\/p>\n

Che taglia porta? \u2014<\/em> What size are you?<\/h3>\n

A salesperson will probably ask you this if you’ve let them know you’re interested in an item.<\/p>\n

You can respond by saying “Porto la…”\u00a0<\/em>followed by your respective size.<\/p>\n

\u00c8 una taglia di troppo\/in meno.<\/em> \u2014\u00a0 It\u2019s a size too big\/small.<\/h3>\n

Whenever something doesn’t quite fit, be sure to let the salesperson know so they can find a more appropriate size for you.<\/p>\n

You can either say, “\u00c8 una taglia di troppo” <\/em>or “\u00c8 una taglia in meno.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00c8\/Sono in offerta.<\/em> \u2014 It\u2019s\/They\u2019re on sale. (Non-clothing items)<\/h3>\n

If there’s a discount available for a certain product, a clerk will let you know with this phrase.<\/p>\n

\u00c8\/Sono in saldo.<\/em> \u2014 It\u2019s\/They\u2019re on sale. (Clothing items)<\/h3>\n

If the item on sale is clothing, the salesperson will use in saldo<\/em> instead of in offerta<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Quanti\/e? <\/strong><\/em>\u2014 How many?<\/h3>\n

You’ll probably hear this if you’re trying to buy a quantity of food or another item that often comes in multiples.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Posso avere delle uova per favore.\u00a0
\n<\/em>(Can I buy some eggs please?)<\/p>\n

Quante?\u00a0
\n<\/em>(How many?)<\/p>\n

Key Italian Shopping Vocabulary<\/h2>\n

Now that you know a good number of key phrases<\/a> for shopping in Italian, it’s time to brush up on your vocabulary.<\/p>\n

Here are some simple, but useful vocabulary words you may need to shop:<\/p>\n

Fare shopping <\/em>\u2014 To go shopping<\/h3>\n

Mi piace fare shopping<\/strong> in centro con i miei amici.
\n<\/em>(I like to go shopping downtown with my friends.)<\/p>\n

Fare la spesa <\/em>\u2014 To go (grocery) shopping<\/h3>\n

Devo fare la spesa<\/strong> questo venerd\u00ec.
\n<\/span><\/em>(I need to go [grocery] shopping this Friday.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Guardare le vetrine <\/em>\u2014 To go window shopping<\/h3>\n

Mentre guardavo le vetrine<\/strong>, ho visto un vestito bellissimo.
\n<\/em>(While I was window shopping, I saw a beautiful dress.)<\/p>\n

La carta di credito <\/em>\u2014 The credit card<\/h3>\n

Lui preferisce <\/em>pagare con una carta di credito<\/strong>.
\n<\/em>(He prefers to pay with a credit card.)<\/p>\n

I contanti <\/em>\u2014 The cash<\/h3>\n

Porto\u00a0sempre abbastanza contanti<\/strong> per fare shopping.
\n<\/em>(I always bring enough cash to go shopping.)<\/p>\n

Il portafoglio <\/em>\u2014 The wallet<\/h3>\n

Hai perso il tuo portafoglio<\/strong>?<\/em>
\n(Did you lose your wallet?)<\/p>\n

Il carrello della spesa <\/em>\u2014 The shopping cart<\/h3>\n

Abbiamo riempito il nostro carrello della spesa<\/strong> con cibo.
\n<\/em>(We filled our shopping cart with food.)<\/p>\n

I camerini <\/em>\u2014 The fitting rooms<\/h3>\n

Mi scusi, dove sono i camerini<\/strong>?<\/em>
\n(Excuse me, where are the fitting rooms?)<\/p>\n

La cassa <\/em>\u2014 The cash register<\/h3>\n

Si paga alla cassa<\/strong>.<\/em>
\n(You pay at the cash register.)<\/p>\n

Lo scontrino <\/em>\u2014 The receipt<\/h3>\n

Ho ricevuto il mio scontrino<\/strong> dopo aver pagato.
\n<\/em>(I received my receipt after paying.)<\/p>\n

A Sample Italian Shopping Dialogue<\/h2>\n

For the vocab specifically mentioned in the previous section, here’s a sample dialogue between two friends who have some errands to run.<\/p>\n

Keep an eye out for new words and phrases as you follow along:<\/p>\n

Vanessa:
\n<\/strong>Ciao, Sofia! Dove vai?
\n<\/em>(Hi, Sofia! Where are you going?)<\/p>\n

Sofia:
\n<\/strong>Ciao! Vado al supermercato<\/strong> a comprare<\/strong> il latte. E tu?
\n<\/em>(Hi! I’m going to the supermarket to buy milk. What about you?)<\/p>\n

Vanessa:
\n<\/strong>Vado in<\/em> farmacia<\/strong> a comprare<\/strong> un nuovo detergente per il viso.
\n<\/em>(I’m going to the pharmacy to buy a new facial cleanser.)<\/p>\n

Ho appena letto dell’importanza di prendersi cura della pelle in un nuovo libro che ho comprato.
\n<\/em>(I just read about the importance of taking care of your skin in a new book I bought.)<\/p>\n

Sofia:
\nDavvero? Che libro \u00e8?
\n<\/em>(Really? What book is it?)<\/p>\n

Vanessa:
\n<\/strong>“La Scienza della Pelle.” L’ho comprato<\/strong> in libreria<\/strong> la settimana scorsa.<\/em>
\n<\/em><\/strong>(“The Science of Skin.” I bought it at the bookstore last week.)
\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Te lo posso prestare, se vuoi.<\/em>
\n\u00a0(I can lend it to you, if you want.)<\/p>\n

Sofia:
\n<\/strong>Sarebbe fantastico, grazie!
\n<\/em>(That would be great, thanks!)<\/p>\n

Vanessa:\u00a0
\n<\/strong>Di niente. Dove hai trovato quegli stivali? Ti stanno benissimo!
\n<\/em>(My pleasure. Where did you find those boots? They look great on you!)<\/p>\n

Sofia:
\n<\/strong>Grazie! Li ho trovati al negozio di scarpe <\/strong>accanto alla posta<\/strong>.
\n<\/em>(Thanks! I found them at the shoe store next to the post office.)<\/p>\n

Vanessa:
\n<\/strong>Che bello! Devo andarci anche io per provare delle scarpe col tacco nuove.<\/em>
\n(Cool! I have to go there myself to try on some new heels.)<\/p>\n

Sofia:
\n<\/strong>D’accordo! \u00c8 stato bello vederti, Vanessa, ma devo scappare ora.
\n<\/strong><\/em>(Sounds good! It was nice to see you, Vanessa, but I have to get going now.)
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Dobbiamo andare a pranzo uno di questi giorni.
\n<\/em>(We should have lunch sometime.)<\/p>\n

Vanessa:
\n<\/strong>Assolutamente. A presto, Sofia!
\n<\/em>(Definitely. See you soon, Sofia!)<\/p>\n

Sofia:
\n<\/strong>Ci vediamo!
\n<\/em>(See you!)<\/p>\n

Important Notes for Shopping in Italian<\/h2>\n

Once you learn all the basic words and phrases for shopping in Italian, you need to familiarize yourself with the proper language to use with other speakers.<\/p>\n

Consider these guidelines for communicating with others in Italian about shopping-related topics:<\/p>\n