Sales and Bargaining

Shopping & Bargaining in Italian

Welcome to Unit 7! When shopping in Italy—especially at open-air markets or small boutiques—knowing how to ask for a discount or discuss sales is essential.

Key Vocabulary for Sales

  • Lo sconto: The discount
  • In saldo: On sale
  • Troppo caro: Too expensive

When you want to ask if something is discounted, you can use phrases like C'è uno sconto? (Is there a discount?). If you are at a market, polite bargaining is common, and you might ask: Si può fare un prezzo di favore? (Can you give me a special price?).

Common Mistakes

Avoid saying "È troppo caro per me" too abruptly without smiling; keeping the tone friendly makes bargaining fun! Also, remember that department stores (grandi magazzini) usually don't negotiate prices, unlike street markets (mercati rionali).

Italian English
Il prezzo The price
La cassa The checkout

Words

lo sconto
the discount
C'è uno sconto su questa giacca?Is there a discount on this jacket?
in saldo
on sale
Queste scarpe sono in saldo.These shoes are on sale.
troppo caro
too expensive
Questo cappotto è troppo caro.This coat is too expensive.
il prezzo
the price
Posso vedere il prezzo?Can I see the price?
la cassa
the checkout
Paghiamo alla cassa.Let's pay at the checkout.
trattare
to bargain
Mi piace trattare al mercato.I like to bargain at the market.
l'offerta
the offer
È un'ottima offerta.It's a great offer.
risparmiare
to save (money)
Voglio risparmiare sui vestiti.I want to save money on clothes.
il mercato
the market
Andiamo al mercato sabato.Let's go to the market on Saturday.
la taglia
the size
Avete questa taglia in saldo?Do you have this size on sale?

Lessons are prepared with the help of AI.

Patterns

C'è uno sconto su ___?

Is there a discount on ...? Use this to ask if a specific item is discounted.

C'è uno sconto su questa borsa?Is there a discount on this bag?

Non posso pagare ___.

I cannot pay ... Use this when negotiating price or expressing it is too expensive.

Non posso pagare cento euro.I cannot pay one hundred euros.

Mi fa uno sconto di ___?

Will you give me a discount of ...? Use this at markets to bargain.

Mi fa uno sconto di dieci euro?Will you give me a ten euro discount?