Buying and exchanging clothes in Italian
Ce l'ha in una taglia più grande?
“Do you have it in a bigger size?”
When: Holding the item, asking a shop assistant
The moment
You buy a jacket (un giubbotto) on Via del Corso in Rome: you ask for your size, try it on, and pay by card. Two days later the zip breaks, so you walk back into the same shop to exchange it.
A1 · Unit 5 · Shopping · Checkpoint
This is the unit’s checkpoint: one roleplay that puts the unit’s scenes together.
The lines
Asking for your size
'Ce l'ha in...?' gets you the right size: 'Ce l'ha in una taglia più grande?' The same opening works for a colour: 'Ce l'ha in nero?'
Ce l'ha in una taglia più grande?
“Do you have it in a bigger size?”
When to use it: Holding the item, asking a shop assistant
What you’ll hear back: Sì, un attimo che controllo. (Yes, one moment, I'll check.)
Coming back to exchange
'Vorrei cambiarlo' opens any return politely, and the reason goes straight after it: 'Vorrei cambiarlo: la cerniera non funziona.' Have the receipt ready.
Vorrei cambiarlo: la cerniera non funziona.
“I'd like to exchange it: the zipper doesn't work.”
When to use it: Back at the counter with the item and the receipt
What you’ll hear back: Certo, ha lo scontrino? (Of course, do you have the receipt?)
Words for this scene
| Italian | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| Posso provarlo? | POS-soh proh-VAR-loh | Can I try it on? |
Mi piace, posso provarlo? I like it, can I try it on? Tip: Always ask before walking into the fitting room. | ||
| Mi fa lo scontrino, per favore? | mee fah loh skon-TREE-noh pehr fah-VOH-reh | Can I have the receipt, please? |
Grazie, mi fa lo scontrino, per favore? Thanks, can I have the receipt, please? Tip: Keep it in your wallet: no exchange without it. | ||
| Non funziona | nohn foon-TSYOH-nah | It doesn't work |
Mi dispiace, ma non funziona. I'm sorry, but it doesn't work. Tip: Name the part too: la cerniera non funziona. | ||
Your objective
Ask for your size and try it on, pay by card, then come back, say what’s wrong and ask to exchange it.
- your size
- paying by card
- an exchange
Lines that get it done
- Ce l'ha in una taglia più grande?
- Vorrei cambiarlo: la cerniera non funziona.
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. In the fitting room the jacket is too tight and you want a bigger size. What do you say?
- Ce l'ha in una taglia più grande?
- Ce l'ha in una taglia più piccola?
- È una taglia più grande.
- Che taglia più grande?
Show the answer
Ce l'ha in una taglia più grande?
Più grande means bigger, and Ce l'ha in...? is the ask-the-shop pattern.
2. The cashier says 'Fanno quarantacinque euro.' You want to use your card. What do you say?
- Posso pagare con la carta?
- Posso pagare con lo scontrino?
- Ha una carta?
- Pago in contanti.
Show the answer
Posso pagare con la carta?
Con la carta is by card; in contanti would mean you are paying cash.
3. You return two days later because the zip is broken. What do you say first?
- Vorrei cambiarlo, per favore. Non funziona.
- Vorrei provarlo, per favore. Non funziona.
- Mi sta bene, grazie.
- Quant'è in tutto?
Show the answer
Vorrei cambiarlo, per favore. Non funziona.
Ask for the exchange first, then say what is wrong with it.