Shopping in Italy: Clothes, Sizes and Saldi
Italian vocabulary for shops, clothes, sizes and sales, plus the phrases you need to ask for prices, try things on and pay.
Italy is famous for fashion and markets. These words and phrases will help you shop with confidence.
Shops
| English | Italian |
|---|---|
| shop | negozio |
| market | mercato |
| supermarket | supermercato |
| bakery | panetteria |
| pharmacy | farmacia |
| bookshop | libreria |
| clothes shop | negozio di abbigliamento |
| shoe shop | negozio di scarpe |
Clothes
| English | Italian |
|---|---|
| shirt | camicia |
| trousers | pantaloni |
| skirt | gonna |
| dress | vestito |
| jacket | giacca |
| shoes | scarpe |
| coat | cappotto |
| jumper | maglione |
| t-shirt | maglietta |
Sizes
- la taglia — clothing size
- il numero — shoe size
- piccolo, medio, grande — small, medium, large
Useful phrases
| Situation | Italian |
|---|---|
| Looking around | Sto solo guardando, grazie. |
| Asking the price | Quanto costa? |
| Asking for a size | Ha una taglia più grande? |
| Trying on | Posso provarlo / provarla? |
| Changing room | Dov'è il camerino? |
| Deciding | Lo prendo. — I'll take it. |
| Paying | Posso pagare con la carta? |
| Asking for a bag | Mi dà una busta, per favore? |
Sales and prices
- i saldi — the sales (seasonal, in winter and summer)
- lo sconto — discount
- in offerta — on offer
- il prezzo — price
- lo scontrino — receipt
- la cassa — checkout
Opening hours
Many small shops close for a lunch break, often from about 13:00 to 15:30 or 16:00, and some close on Sunday or one weekday afternoon. Signs say orario (opening hours), aperto (open) and chiuso (closed).
Tips
- Say buongiorno when entering a shop.
- Learn "sto solo guardando" for browsing.
- Use the dictionary to check clothing terms.
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