Markets & Souvenirs

1. Si pò mircantiari?

   Can one haggle?

   Usage

   Ask a seller whether the price is negotiable

   Grammar Note

   Si pò is the set formula for asking whether something is allowed or possible. Mircantiari shares its root with mircatu (market). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Mi lu lassati a deci euru?

   Will you let me have it for 10 euros?

   Usage

   Name the price you want to pay when haggling

   Grammar Note

   Lassati is the plural (voi) form used as a polite singular. Euru stays unchanged after a number. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Mi fati nu scontu si nni pigghiu tanti?

   Will you give me a discount if I take many?

   Usage

   Ask for a discount when buying several items

   Grammar Note

   This si "if" carries no accent, unlike Sì "yes". Nni is the particle meaning "of them". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. È fattu a manu?

   Is it handmade?

   Usage

   Check whether a craft or souvenir is handmade

   Grammar Note

   È is written with an accent (the unaccented e is "and"). Fattu a manu is "handmade"; for a feminine item say fatta a manu

5. Di chi cosa è fattu?

   What is it made of?

   Usage

   Ask what material a craft item is made from

   Grammar Note

   Literally "of what thing is it made". Chi cosa means "what"; do not confuse di chi with di cu "whose". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Mi putiti fari nu pacchettu pi rialu?

   Could you wrap it as a gift for me?

   Usage

   Ask for gift wrapping after buying a souvenir

   Grammar Note

   Putiti is the plural (voi) form of putiri used as a polite singular. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Unni è u mircatu nutturnu?

   Where is the night market?

   Usage

   Ask where the market that opens at night is

   Grammar Note

   U is the masculine article; the adjective follows the noun. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

8. Staiu sulu taliannu, grazzii

   I'm just looking, thank you

   Usage

   Tell a seller who approaches you that you are only browsing

   Grammar Note

   Staiu plus a gerund in -annu gives the progressive. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

9. Si pò pagari cu la carta?

   Can I pay by card?

   Usage

   Check whether a card works at a stall or small shop

   Grammar Note

   "Do you accept cards" is expressed as "can one pay by card". Many market stalls take cash only. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

10. È nu ricordu pi la me famigghia

    It's a keepsake for my family

    Usage

    Explain who a souvenir is for while choosing it

    Grammar Note

    Ricordu means "memory" and by extension a keepsake or souvenir. The gghi in famigghia is the sound Italian writes gli. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

11. Chi cosa è cchiù frisca oggi?

    What is the freshest thing today?

    Usage

    Ask a fish or vegetable seller what came in freshest

    Grammar Note

    Cosa is feminine, so the adjective is frisca. Cchiù means "more"; with an article it forms the superlative. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

12. Aviti na misura cchiù nica?

    Do you have a smaller size?

    Usage

    Ask for a smaller size of clothes or shoes

    Grammar Note

    Nicu means "small"; it becomes nica to agree with feminine misura. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

13. È troppu caru

    It's too expensive

    Usage

    An opening line when haggling: the price is too high

    Grammar Note

    For a feminine item say troppu cara. Caru also means "dear". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

14. Cipudda

    Onion

    Usage

    Point at this to buy onions or to ask for a dish without them

    Grammar Note

    A feminine noun; the plural is cipuddi

15. Pipi russu

    Red chilli pepper

    Usage

    The hot red chilli; also useful to ask for a dish with or without it

    Grammar Note

    "Red pipi", corresponding to Italian peperoncino rosso. Sweet peppers are a different word, so point to confirm if you want to avoid heat

16. Frutta

    Fruit

    Usage

    Fruit as a category; use it to ask where fruit is sold

    Grammar Note

    A feminine noun; a single piece of fruit is fruttu

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