How to return an item in Italian
Vorrei cambiarlo, per favore.
“I'd like to exchange it, please.”
When: Walking up to the counter with the item
The moment
The jumper you bought yesterday in Milan is the wrong size. You go back to the shop with the receipt and ask to swap it or get your money back.
A1 · Unit 5 · Shopping
The lines
Asking for an exchange
'Vorrei cambiarlo, per favore' means I'd like to exchange it, please. It is the gentlest way to open a return, and the assistant will ask for your receipt next.
Vorrei cambiarlo, per favore.
“I'd like to exchange it, please.”
When to use it: Walking up to the counter with the item
What you’ll hear back: Certo, ha lo scontrino? (Of course, do you have the receipt?)
Saying what is wrong
'È la taglia sbagliata' tells them it is the wrong size. Say it straight after asking to exchange, so they know what to go and look for.
È la taglia sbagliata.
“It's the wrong size.”
When to use it: Explaining the problem at the counter
What you’ll hear back: Che taglia le serve? (What size do you need?)
Words for this scene
| Italian | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ecco lo scontrino | EK-koh loh skon-TREE-noh | Here's the receipt |
Ecco lo scontrino, è di ieri. Here's the receipt, it's from yesterday. Tip: No receipt, no exchange: Italian shops rarely bend on this. | ||
| Non funziona | nohn foon-TSYOH-nah | It doesn't work |
La cerniera non funziona. The zip doesn't work. Tip: Covers zips, chargers, headphones, anything broken. | ||
| Posso avere un rimborso? | POS-soh ah-VEH-reh oon reem-BOR-soh | Can I have a refund? |
Non mi sta bene, posso avere un rimborso? It doesn't fit me, can I have a refund? Tip: Many shops offer a credit note, un buono, instead of cash. | ||
Your objective
Say what you bought and what’s wrong with it, and ask to exchange it or get your money back.
- what you bought
- what’s wrong with it
- an exchange or a refund
Lines that get it done
- È la taglia sbagliata.
- Posso avere un rimborso? · Can I have a refund?
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You bought a jumper in medium but you need a large. What do you tell the shop?
- È la taglia sbagliata.
- È la taglia giusta.
- È il negozio sbagliato.
- Non trovo la taglia.
Show the answer
È la taglia sbagliata.
Sbagliata means wrong, so this names the problem in three words.
2. The assistant asks 'Ha lo scontrino?' What do you say as you hand it over?
- Ecco lo scontrino.
- Ecco il rimborso.
- Ecco il camerino.
- Ecco la taglia.
Show the answer
Ecco lo scontrino.
Ecco means here it is, and it is what you say while handing something over.
3. The phone charger you bought is broken. What do you say?
- Non funziona.
- Non mi sta bene.
- Non è aperto.
- Non lo prendo.
Show the answer
Non funziona.
Non funziona is the all-purpose phrase for anything that has stopped working.