Which Italian phrases matter most here?

“Chi è l'ultimo?” (Who is last in line); “Tocca a me?” (Is it my turn); “Un chilo di patate, per favore.” (One kilo of potatoes, please). 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 fruit and veg at the market in Italy

At a busy stall there is usually no ticket: ask “Chi è l’ultimo?” and wait after that person. When it’s your turn, say “Tocca a me?”, then order by weight: “Un chilo di patate, per favore”, “Mezzo chilo, per favore”. Ask “Posso sceglierli io?” if you want to pick the fruit yourself.

Try it · about two minutes

At a busy market stall you work out who’s last in the queue, then buy fruit and vegetables by the kilo.

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

How does the conversation usually go?

It’s a busy market morning. Several people are gathered around the stall, and there are no tickets.
You
Chi è l'ultimo?
Who is last in line?
Stallholder
Il prossimo, prego.
Next, please.
You
Tocca a me?
Is it my turn?
Stallholder
Che cosa desidera?
What would you like?
You
Un chilo di patate, per favore.
One kilo of potatoes, please.
Stallholder
È un po' più di un chilo. Va bene?
A bit over a kilo. Is that fine?
You
Sì, va bene così.
Yes, that’s fine.
Stallholder
Desidera altro?
Would you like anything else?
You
Avete i pomodori?
Do you have tomatoes?
Stallholder
Fanno otto euro e cinquanta.
That comes to eight euros fifty.
You
Posso pagare con la carta?
Can I pay by card?

Which Italian phrases do you need?

Chi è l'ultimo?
Who is last in line?
Tocca a me?
Is it my turn?
Un chilo di patate, per favore.
One kilo of potatoes, please.
Mezzo chilo, per favore.
Half a kilo, please.
Un po' meno, per favore.
A bit less, please.
Vorrei due etti di formaggio.
I would like two hundred grams of cheese.
Posso sceglierli io?
Can I pick them myself?
Quanto costa al chilo?
How much is it per kilo?
È fresco?
Is it fresh?
Senza sacchetto, grazie.
No bag, thank you.

What is worth knowing in Italy?

How a market stall works

1
At a busy stall there’s usually no ticket. Ask who’s last and wait after that person.
Who is last in line?
2
Say what and how much. Fruit and veg are sold by the chilo.
One kilo of potatoes, please.
3
Have some cash ready. Many stalls prefer it, though some take cards.

Let them choose

At many stalls the stallholder picks the produce for you. If you’d rather choose yourself, ask first.

Posso sceglierli io?

Can I pick them myself?

Un etto

An etto is a hundred grams, so “due etti” is two hundred. Cheese, ham and cold cuts are usually ordered in etti.

Vorrei due etti di formaggio.

I would like two hundred grams of cheese.

Questions about this situation

Which Italian phrases matter most here?: “Chi è l'ultimo?” (Who is last in line); “Tocca a me?” (Is it my turn); “Un chilo di patate, per favore.” (One kilo of potatoes, please). 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.

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AI-generated. May be inaccurate.