First Phrases

Winter sales · Italiano

Winter sales shopping phrases in Italian: 15 phrases

Ask if something is on sale, what it costs with the discount, whether you can try it on, for a bigger or smaller size, about exchanges and returns, a receipt, paying by card and gift wrap. Short, natural phrases for the winter sales in a new country.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). In Italy use "Lei" with shop staff, and start with "Buongiorno" or "Buonasera". Staff in young fashion shops may use "tu" with you; you can stay with "Lei". The "tu" version is given where it helps. The sales are called "saldi".

How to read the sounds: Italian is spoken as written. Double consonants (tt, ll, zz) are held longer. c before e/i = ch, g before e/i = j, gn = ny, gli = ly, sc before e/i = sh. Stress is in CAPITALS.

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15 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    È in saldo?
    Say it like: eh in SAHL-doh
    Is this on sale?
    Register: Also "È scontato?" (is it discounted?). Plural: "Sono in saldo?"
  2. 02Neutral
    Quanto costa con lo sconto?
    Say it like: KWAN-toh KOS-tah kon loh SKON-toh
    How much is it with the discount?
    Register: Or "Che sconto c'è?" (what discount is there?).
  3. 03Neutral
    Il prezzo sul cartellino è già scontato?
    Say it like: eel PRET-tsoh sool kar-tel-LEE-noh eh jah skon-TAH-toh
    Is the price on the tag already discounted?
    Register: Sometimes the discount is taken off at the till; this question checks.
  4. 04Neutral
    Posso provarlo?
    Say it like: POS-soh proh-VAR-loh
    Can I try it on?
    Register: "Provarla" for a feminine item (la giacca), "provarli" for a pair or several items.
  5. 05Neutral
    Dov'è il camerino?
    Say it like: doh-VEH eel kah-meh-REE-noh
    Where is the fitting room?
    Register: Plural: "Dove sono i camerini?" In Italian shops the number of items allowed in is sometimes limited.
  6. 06Neutral
    Ce l'ha in una taglia più grande?
    Say it like: cheh LAH in OO-nah TAH-lyah pyoo GRAN-deh
    Do you have it in a bigger size?
    Register: Shoes: "un numero più grande". Tu: "Ce l'hai...?"
  7. 07Neutral
    Ce l'ha in una taglia più piccola?
    Say it like: cheh LAH in OO-nah TAH-lyah pyoo PEEK-koh-lah
    Do you have it in a smaller size?
    Register: Shoes: "un numero più piccolo".
  8. 08Neutral
    Ce l'ha in un altro colore?
    Say it like: cheh LAH in oon AHL-troh koh-LOH-reh
    Do you have it in another colour?
    Register: Add the colour: "in nero?" (in black?).
  9. 09Neutral
    Ne ha un altro in magazzino?
    Say it like: neh AH oon AHL-troh in mah-gad-DZEE-noh
    Do you have another one in the stock room?
    Register: Sale stock is limited, so it is worth asking.
  10. 10Neutral
    Posso fare il cambio o il reso?
    Say it like: POS-soh FAH-reh eel KAM-byoh oh eel REH-zoh
    Can I exchange it or return it?
    Register: "Cambio" = exchange, "reso" = return. Ask before you pay.
  11. 11Neutral
    Si possono cambiare anche i capi in saldo?
    Say it like: see pos-SOH-noh kam-BYAH-reh AN-keh ee KAH-pee in SAHL-doh
    Can sale items be exchanged too?
    Register: Shops are not obliged to exchange a normal purchase and many exclude sale items. Keep the receipt.
  12. 12Neutral
    Mi dà lo scontrino, per favore?
    Say it like: mee DAH loh skon-TREE-noh, per fah-VOH-reh
    Could I have the receipt, please?
    Register: For a gift ask for "lo scontrino regalo" (a gift receipt). Tu: "Mi dai lo scontrino?"
  13. 13Neutral
    Posso pagare con la carta?
    Say it like: POS-soh pa-GAH-reh kon lah KAR-tah
    Can I pay by card?
    Register: "Contanti" is cash; "con il bancomat" is by debit card; "contactless" is used as in English.
  14. 14Neutral
    È questa la fila per la cassa?
    Say it like: eh KWES-tah lah FEE-lah per lah KAS-sah
    Is this the queue for the till?
    Register: Say "Scusi" to ask someone politely.
  15. 15Polite
    Può farmi un pacchetto regalo, per favore?
    Say it like: pwoh FAR-mee oon pak-KET-toh reh-GAH-loh, per fah-VOH-reh
    Could you wrap it as a gift, please?
    Register: Tu: "Puoi farmi un pacchetto regalo?" Some shops do not wrap sale items.

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Quick answers

How do you ask if something is on sale in Italian?

Say: "È in saldo?" (Is this on sale?)

Should I use informal or formal Italian with shop staff?

In Italy use "Lei" with shop staff, and start with "Buongiorno" or "Buonasera". Staff in young fashion shops may use "tu" with you; you can stay with "Lei". The "tu" version is given where it helps. The sales are called "saldi".

How do I ask to try something on in Italian?

Say: "Posso provarlo?" (Can I try it on?)

How do I ask about exchanging or returning an item in Italian?

Try: "Posso fare il cambio o il reso?" (Can I exchange it or return it?)

Winter sales phrases in another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands Svenska

Italian, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat Christmas market Post office and parcels Registering at the town hall

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