Useful Italian Phrases and Tips for Shopping in Italy

Useful Italian Phrases and Tips for Shopping in Italy Brooke Neuman If youre taking a trip to Italy, chances are youre planning on doing some serious shopping. Below, Italian teacher Nadia B. shares some useful Italian phrases and tips for shopping in Italy Do you have a trip to Italy planned? Besides the delicious food, Italy has some of the best shopping in the world. Whether youre looking for a souvenir for your loved one or some high-fashion duds for yourself, Italy has it all. In this article, well explore some useful Italian phrases for shopping as well as some general tips. Learning how to  speak Italian  will ensure that youre getting what you want at the appropriate price. But before we dive into these useful Italian phrases, below are some shopping tips  to help make sure  that your  first shopping trip in  Italy goes off without a hitch. Italian Shopping Tips From big-name fashion brands  to antique mom and pop shops, Italy boasts some of the worlds best fashion and art. Use the tips below to ensure that you have a positive shopping experience. Watch out for imitations:  When you’re visiting cities with lots of tourists, for example  Florence, you might be tempted by the designer look-a-likes being sold on the street at bargain prices. Attento! (Watch out!) The police have been known to fine tourists and sellers alike for buying and selling these items. If its too good to be true,  its probably fake. Look for the Made in Italy tag:  The “Made in Italy” tag has been created to guarantee buyers that an item is authentically conceived, manufactured, and packaged in Italy. Look for items that have this tag so you can  ensure thats it authentic. Whats more,  youll be supporting classic Italian workmanship. Ask for a tax refund:  If  you’re making purchases that are taxed with the VAT (value-added tax), ask the shop owner for a tax refund form. This form enables you to  receive a refund at the airport. The standard rate of this tax is 22%, so you stand to save quite a bit! Remember to pack light: Resist the temptation  to pack five pairs of shoes or three pairs of jeans. Youll want to leave enough room in your suitcase to  bring back the souvenirs and clothing you purchased. However much you think you need to pack, cut it in half. Brush up on  your bargaining skills:  Brush up on your bargaining skills to get fantastic deals. Chances are youll have better luck in smaller stores or if youre buying more than one item. Dont get too greedy; start with a small discount and go from there. Useful Italian Phrases for Shopping When you first enter a shop, the salesperson might greet you and ask how they can help. You can respond by telling them one of the following phrases: Cerco… (I’m looking for…) Vorrei… (I would like…) Ho bisogno di… (I need…) Avete? (Do you have?) If you’re looking for a specific clothing item, one of these words may be just what you’re looking for: L abbigliamento (clothing) La camicia (shirt) La gonna (skirt) Il vestito  (dress) I pantaloni (pants) Le scarpe (shoes) If youre looking for accessories, try one of these Italian words: La collana  (necklace) Il braccialetto  (bracelet) L’ anello  (ring) La cintura (belt) La sciarpa  (scarf) I guanti  (gloves) Il portafoglio  (wallet) Gli occhiali da sole (sunglasses) Once you’ve spotted  something you like, heres a phrase you can direct toward a shopkeeper  Posso provare questi articoli, per favore?  (Can I please try these items?) Once you’ve tried them on, you might want to discuss the fit with a salesperson. Here are some useful Italian phrases to use: Mi sembra troppo… (It seems too…) stretto/a (tight) allentato/a (loose) grande (big) piccolo/a (small) Come mi sta? (How does it look on me?) Mi piace… (I like… [for a singular object]) Mi piacciono… (I like…[for a plural object]) Non mi piace… (I don’t like [for a singular object]) Non mi piacciono… (I don’t like…[for a plural object]) Mi può portare una taglia più grande/piccolo, per favore? (Can you please bring me a bigger/smaller size?) If you’re thinking of buying a particular item and want to discuss price, use the following Italian phrases; Quanto costa? (How much does it cost?). E’ caro. (It’s expensive.) E’ economico. (It’s inexpensive.) I contanti ( money) la carta di credito (credit card) lo scontrino/la ricevuta (receipt [informal/formal]) la borsa (bag) Learning Italian before your trip will definitely come in handyespecially when youre shopping. Use the useful Italian phrases above to ensure that you have an enjoyable shopping experience. Post Author:  Nadia B. Nadia B. teaches Italian in New York, NY. She graduated summa cum laude from New York University, with a double degree in Italian Language and Literature and Classical Music Performance.  Learn more about Nadia here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher