Going shopping in an Italian-speaking country is not only a delight for your senses but also a chance to practise your Italian! To help you navigate any situation, we prepared a list of basic Italian vocabulary for going shopping. 

The best part is that all the content in this blog post is inspired by the lesson from Coffee Break Italian, which you can listen to below. So, after reading the text, make sure to listen to the episode to learn how to pronounce each new word perfectly!

Let’s get started with our list of five essential phrases! 

1. Vorrei…

The first thing you need to know for going shopping is how to say I would like in Italian. If you are already familiar with the conjugation of the verb volere, you will probably know that to express I would like you can simply use the word vorrei. For instance:

• Vorrei comprare questa cartolina. I would like to buy this postcard.

Using vorrei makes your requests sound more courteous when asking for a specific item in a shop:

• Vorrei provare questa maglietta. I would like to try on this t-shirt.

2. Posso provare…? 

Another basic Italian vocabulary for going shopping for clothes or shoes is being able to ask if you can try something on. For that, you can use the structure posso provare…? Can I try…? to request access to the fitting room.

Let’s check some examples: 

• Posso provare questi pantaloni? Can I try on these trousers?
• Posso provare questi vestito? Can I try on this dress? 

The shop assistant might direct you to the fitting room by saying: Prego. La cabina è lì in fondo. Please. The fitting room is over there.

3. Quanto costa? / Quant’è? 

Third, on our list of basic Italian vocabulary for going shopping, we have Quanto costa? or Quant’è? and both mean How much does it cost?. For example:

• Quant’è questa sciarpa? How much is this scarf?
• Quanto costa il maglione? How much does the jumper cost?

When the shop assistant responds, they’ll likely state the price in euros and cents, so be ready to understand numbers in Italian! 

4. Posso pagare con la carta?

In Italy, cash is still widely used, but many shops and stores accept cards. When you’re ready to pay, you can ask:

• Posso pagare con la carta? Can I pay with a card?

If the shop accepts card payments, the assistant will likely respond with Sì, certo.
However, if cards are not accepted, they might say: Mi dispiace, solo contanti.
I’m sorry, cash only.

So, remember, when travelling to smaller towns or markets, it’s always a good idea to carry some cash.

5. No, grazie. È tutto.

Once you’ve chosen your items, the shop assistant might ask you:

• Ha bisogno di altro? Do you need anything else?

This is a polite way of ensuring you have everything you need before finalising your purchase. To which you can respond No, grazie. È tutto. No, thank you. That’s all.

Or if you remember something last minute, you can use the basic Italian vocabulary structure for shopping, Sto cercando anche… I’m also looking for… adding the name of the thing you still need. 

Bonus: asking about store hours

Finally, if you would like to come back the next day or after you visit a tourist attraction, another basic Italian vocabulary is being able to ask about store hours. To say that you can use the structure:

• A che ora apre il negozio? At what time does the shop open?
• A che ora chiude il negozio? What time does the shop close?

Shopping in Italy is about more than just transactions—it’s a cultural experience! Don’t be afraid to engage in small talk or practise your basic Italian vocabulary! A simple grazie and arrivederci will leave a good impression.

But, if you find yourself lost in a small town, would you be able to ask for information in Italian? To learn how to do it and have some nice phrases under your belt, be sure to read the article we prepared to help you with that!