Making Purchases and Payment

Shopping and Payments in Italian

When shopping in Italy, knowing how to ask about prices and payment methods is essential. Whether you prefer paying with cash or card, these phrases will help you navigate checkout with confidence.

Asking for Prices

To ask how much something costs, use Quanto costa? (How much does it cost?) for singular items, or Quanto costano? for plural items.

  • Quanto costa questa giacca? - How much does this jacket cost?
  • Accettate carte di credito? - Do you accept credit cards?

Cash or Card?

Cash is contanti, while a card is carta. You can often choose between paying in contanti or con la carta.

  • Posso pagare con la carta? - Can I pay by card?
  • Pago in contanti. - I am paying in cash.

Receipts

By law in Italy, you must keep your receipt (scontrino) for a short distance after leaving the shop.

Common Mistake: Do not confuse scontrino (shop receipt) with ricevuta (invoice or formal receipt).

Words

quanto costa
how much does it cost
Quanto costa questa camicia?How much does this shirt cost?
pagare con la carta
to pay by card
Preferisco pagare con la carta.I prefer to pay by card.
in contanti
in cash
Pago sempre in contanti.I always pay in cash.
lo scontrino
the receipt
Ecco lo scontrino e il resto.Here is the receipt and the change.
il resto
the change
Tenga il resto.Keep the change.
la cassa
the cash register
Paghiamo alla cassa.Let's pay at the cash register.
il prezzo
the price
Il prezzo è troppo alto.The price is too high.
uno sconto
a discount
C'è uno sconto del venti percento?Is there a twenty percent discount?
accettare
to accept
Accettate il bancomat?Do you accept debit cards?
costare
to cost
Quanto costano queste scarpe?How much do these shoes cost?

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Patterns

Quanto costa ___?

Asking for the price of a singular item.

Quanto costa questo cappotto?How much does this coat cost?

Posso pagare ___?

Asking if a specific payment method is available.

Posso pagare con la carta?Can I pay by card?

Posso avere ___?

Polite request for an item like a receipt.

Posso avere lo scontrino?Can I have the receipt?