Which Italian phrases matter most here?

“Vorrei un contratto telefonico.” (I’d like a phone contract); “Vorrei un'offerta con dati illimitati.” (I’d like a plan with unlimited data); “Quanti giga ho ogni mese?” (How much data do I get each month). 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 getting a mobile SIM card in Italy

Go to a phone shop and ask: “Vorrei una SIM ricaricabile, per favore” (pay-as-you-go). The assistant will ask for photo ID, “Ha un documento d’identità con foto?”, and may ask for your codice fiscale too. Ask “Posso tenere il mio vecchio numero?” to keep your number.

Try it · about two minutes

In a phone shop you buy a prepaid SIM, show your ID and ask to keep your old number.

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

How does the conversation usually go?

Phone shop assistant
Posso aiutarla?
Can I help you?
You
Vorrei una SIM ricaricabile, per favore.
I’d like a pay-as-you-go SIM, please.
The assistant slides a leaflet across the counter with two plans: one with plenty of data, one cheaper.
You
Vorrei un'offerta con dati illimitati.
I’d like a plan with unlimited data.
Phone shop assistant
Ha un documento d'identità con foto?
Do you have photo ID?
You
Ecco il mio passaporto.
Here’s my passport.
Phone shop assistant
Compili questo modulo, per favore.
Please fill in this form.
You
Non capisco questo modulo.
I don’t understand this form.
Phone shop assistant
Vuole tenere il suo numero o ne vuole uno nuovo?
Do you want to keep your number or have a new one?
You
Posso tenere il mio vecchio numero?
Can I keep my old number?
Phone shop assistant
Carta o contanti?
Card or cash?
You
Accettate le carte?
Do you accept cards?

Which Italian phrases do you need?

Vorrei un contratto telefonico.
I’d like a phone contract.
Vorrei un'offerta con dati illimitati.
I’d like a plan with unlimited data.
Quanti giga ho ogni mese?
How much data do I get each month?
C'è una durata minima del contratto?
Is there a minimum contract period?
Ci sono costi di attivazione?
Is there an activation fee?
C'è un'offerta più economica?
Is there a cheaper plan?
Posso tenere il mio vecchio numero?
Can I keep my old number?
Ha un documento d'identità con foto?
Do you have photo ID?
Ecco il mio passaporto.
Here’s my passport.
Non capisco questo modulo.
I don’t understand this form.

What is worth knowing in Italy?

Getting a SIM

1
Ask for a SIM ricaricabile (pay-as-you-go), or a contract if you want one.
I’d like a phone contract.
2
Show photo ID. Shops often ask for your codice fiscale too.
Do you have photo ID?
3
Fill in the form, and say whether you want to keep your old number.
Can I keep my old number?

Codice fiscale

Italian shops often ask for your codice fiscale, the personal tax code, along with your ID. If you don’t have it with you, say so and ask what they can do.

Non ho con me il codice fiscale.

I don’t have my codice fiscale with me.

Topping up

A SIM ricaricabile runs on credit. You add more with a ricarica, which you can buy at many tabaccherie and shops, or online.

Questions about this situation

Which Italian phrases matter most here?: “Vorrei un contratto telefonico.” (I’d like a phone contract); “Vorrei un'offerta con dati illimitati.” (I’d like a plan with unlimited data); “Quanti giga ho ogni mese?” (How much data do I get each month). 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.