At the Market and in Shops
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November 9, 2026
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Phrases and words you hear and use at an Italian food market and in small shops, from buying cheese by weight to trying on clothes and paying at the till.
- Order quantities at the counter with un etto di and mezzo chilo, ask for a taste, and check the price.
- Browse in a shop, ask to try something on, and ask for another size or a gift wrap.
- Notice how shopkeepers and customers speak to each other using polite Lei forms such as Desidera?, Mi dà…? and Ecco a Lei.
Voca cards
1.
il banco
stall, counter
Prendiamo il formaggio a quel banco qui di fronte.
Let's get the cheese at that stall right across from us.
In an open-air market or food shop, 'il banco' is a stall or the counter where fresh food is sold.
2.
A chi tocca?
Who's next?, Whose turn is it?
Buongiorno signori, a chi tocca?
Good morning, folks, who's next?
Called out by the shopkeeper at a busy counter to ask whose turn it is next.
3.
Desidera?
→ desiderare
Can I help you?, What can I get for you?
Buongiorno signora, mi dica, desidera?
Good morning, ma'am, what can I get for you?
Polite 'Lei' form of 'desiderare' ('to wish'), used across counters in Italy to ask 'What can I get you?'.
4.
Mi dà…?
Can I have…?, Could I get…?
Mi dà una mozzarella di bufala, per favore?
Can I have a buffalo mozzarella, please?
Literally 'Do you give me…?' in the polite 'Lei' form, and the most natural way to ask for something at a counter.
5.
un etto di
a hundred grams of
Vorrei un etto di prosciutto crudo tagliato sottile.
I'd like a hundred grams of thinly sliced prosciutto.
An 'etto' is 100 grams, the standard unit for sliced meats and cheese; 200 grams is 'due etti', 300 grams is 'tre etti'.
6.
mezzo chilo
half a kilo
Prendo anche mezzo chilo di pomodorini.
I'll also take half a kilo of cherry tomatoes.
7.
assaggiare
to taste, to try
Posso assaggiare un pezzetto di questo pecorino?
Can I try a little piece of this pecorino?
8.
Quanto viene?
How much is it?, How much does it come to?
Scusi, quanto viene al chilo l'uva?
Excuse me, how much are the grapes per kilo?
In markets and shops, 'venire' is commonly used to ask or state the price.
9.
Lascio così?
Is that okay?, Shall I leave it as is?
Sono due etti e venti, lascio così?
It's two hundred and twenty grams, is that okay?
When the scale shows a little more than you asked for, the seller asks 'Lascio così?' or simply 'Lascio?' ('Shall I leave it as it is?').
10.
Basta così.
That's all., That'll be all.
Non mi serve altro, basta così, grazie.
I don't need anything else, that'll be all, thank you.
The standard reply when a shopkeeper asks 'Altro?' ('Anything else?') and you have everything you need.
11.
la vetrina
store window, display window
Mi piace molto quella sciarpa verde in vetrina.
I really like that green scarf in the window.
12.
dare un'occhiata
to take a look, to browse
Grazie mille, do solo un'occhiata.
Thanks so much, I'm just taking a look.
A polite reply when a shop assistant offers help and you just want to look around.
13.
Posso provarlo?
Can I try it on?
Questo maglione è molto bello, posso provarlo?
This sweater is really nice, can I try it on?
Change the ending to match what you are trying on: 'provarla' for a feminine item ('la giacca'), 'provarli' or 'provarle' for plural items.
14.
il camerino
fitting room, dressing room
Scusi, dov'è il camerino?
Excuse me, where's the fitting room?
15.
stare bene
to look good on, to suit
Questa giacca Le sta davvero bene.
This jacket looks really good on you.
When talking about clothes, 'stare bene' (or 'stare male') means to suit someone or fit well.
16.
stretto
tight
Purtroppo questi pantaloni mi stanno un po' stretti.
Unfortunately, these pants are a bit tight on me.
The opposite for clothes and shoes that are too loose or big is 'largo'.
17.
la taglia
size
Ce l'ha di una taglia più grande?
Do you have it in a larger size?
Used for clothing sizes; for shoe sizes, Italians use 'il numero'.
18.
fare un pacchetto regalo
to gift-wrap
È per un compleanno, mi può fare un pacchetto regalo?
It's for a birthday, could you gift-wrap it for me?
19.
la cassa
register, checkout
Per pagare può andare direttamente alla cassa.
To pay, you can go straight to the register.
20.
pagare con la carta
to pay by card
Posso pagare con la carta anche per una piccola cifra?
Can I pay by card even for a small amount?
To say 'pay in cash', use 'pagare in contanti'.
21.
lo scontrino
receipt
Ecco a Lei lo scontrino e buona giornata.
Here's your receipt, and have a nice day.
22.
il sacchetto
bag
Le serve anche un sacchetto per portare tutto?
Do you also need a bag to carry everything?