Which Italian phrases matter most here?

“Vorrei del pane, per favore.” (I’d like some bread, please); “Una pagnotta, per favore.” (A loaf, please); “Il pane è ancora caldo?” (Is the bread still warm). The full list is above.

Can I hear how they sound?

Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.

How can I practise this conversation?

Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Italy. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Italian phrases for buying bread at the bakery in Italy

Say what you want: “Vorrei del pane, per favore” or “Una pagnotta, per favore”. If you can’t name something, point and ask “Come si chiama questo?”. For a loaf you’ll often hear “Lo vuole affettato?”. Finish with “Basta così, grazie”, then pay at the counter.

Try it · about two minutes

You pop into the bakery for a loaf and a pastry you can’t name, so you point and ask.

Sound on: the baker speaks Italian. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

How does the conversation usually go?

Baker
Che cosa desidera?
What would you like?
You
Vorrei del pane, per favore.
I’d like some bread, please.
Baker
Lo vuole affettato?
Would you like it sliced?
You
Sì, grazie.
Yes, please.
Baker
Desidera altro?
Would you like anything else?
You
Come si chiama questo?
What’s this called?
Baker
Quello? È un cornetto alla crema.
That one? It’s a cream-filled croissant.
You
Ne posso avere due, per favore?
Can I have two, please?
Baker
Le serve un sacchetto?
Do you need a bag?
You
Senza sacchetto, grazie.
No bag, thank you.
Baker
Paga con la carta o in contanti?
Will you pay by card or in cash?
You
Posso pagare con la carta?
Can I pay by card?

Which Italian phrases do you need?

Vorrei del pane, per favore.
I’d like some bread, please.
Una pagnotta, per favore.
A loaf, please.
Il pane è ancora caldo?
Is the bread still warm?
Lo vuole affettato?
Would you like it sliced?
Come si chiama questo?
What’s this called?
Ne posso avere due, per favore?
Can I have two, please?
Solo uno, per favore.
Just one, please.
Basta così, grazie.
That’s all, thank you.
Senza sacchetto, grazie.
No bag, thank you.
Posso prenotare una pagnotta per domani mattina?
Can I reserve a loaf for tomorrow morning?

What is worth knowing in Italy?

How a bakery visit goes

1
If there’s no ticket machine, ask who’s last and wait your turn.
Who is last in line?
2
Say what you’d like. Bread is often sold by weight or by the piece.
Half a kilo, please.
3
Pay at the counter. The baker or a cashier tells you the total.

Panificio, forno, pasticceria

A panificio or a forno bakes bread, and often sells focaccia and pizza by the slice. For cakes and pastries, look for a pasticceria.

Point and ask

Pointing is normal at a bakery counter. Asking what something is called is the quickest way to learn the word.

Come si chiama questo?

What’s this called?

Questions about this situation

Which Italian phrases matter most here?: “Vorrei del pane, per favore.” (I’d like some bread, please); “Una pagnotta, per favore.” (A loaf, please); “Il pane è ancora caldo?” (Is the bread still warm). The full list is above.
Can I hear how they sound?: Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.
How can I practise this conversation?: Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Italy. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Related situations in Italian

All situations in Italian

Practise these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

Try free on the App Store (opens the App Store in a new tab)

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.