Learn Italian with “How To Italian” episode nr. 4! Bargaining to get a “sconto” (discount) is something not quite common in a store, but it becomes common reality if you ever happen to shop “al mercato” (at a market). Today we’ll see how to spot something you love while shopping at the market, ask for a discount, and get a good deal! Happy bargaining, everyone!
How To Italian – Episode Nr.4
Great episode! I wish I had known those useful sentences last year when I went to the Porta Portese market in Rome. Keep up the good work! Mille grazie. Maria
This series is really helpful because so many everyday Italian phrases are very colloquial; it can be frustrating to try to translate them exactly. “Mi faccia bene” is a good example (“make me well?”). I would love it if you could tell me how you would translate these phrases I hear every day:
“Altre tanto” (said in reply to “buona giornata”)
“Ci penso io”
“Ci mancherebbe”
Angela, my advice would be not to try to translate them exactly – but to associate them with their English counterpart.
About “mi faccia bene” – you are rigth, that’s exactly “make me well”, even if it makes no sense in English.
“Altrettanto” means “as much” (literally) but the meaning is “same to you”.
“Ci penso io” means “I think of it” (literally) but the meaning is “I’m taking care of this”.
“Ci mancherebbe” means “it would miss it” (literally) but the meaning is similar to the expressions “no way!”, or “would not let it happen”.
Thanks! I’m still having trouble understanding when to use “ci mancherebbe”; could you give me an example? And one more common phrase I forgot earlier: “Meno male.” I realize it translates as “less bad,” but in what sort of situation would you use this?
Example with “ci mancherebbe altro”:
A: “Mamma, posso andare fuori a giocare?”
B: “Ci mancherebbe altro! Devi fare i compiti!”
A: Mom, can I go play outside?
B: No way! You have to do your homework!
“Meno male” is the equivalent of the English “thank heaven” or “thank God”.
Hi,
Thanks for the explanation; however, the last one confused me. I thought “meno male” means” “not bad”???
The expression “not bad” can be translated as “non male”, or “niente male”.
The expression “meno male” literally means “less bad” – it is used with the same meaning as the English “thank heaven” or “thank God”.
You use “caro arrabbiato’ as too expensive.
How does angry translate as troppo?
Paul, it’s an idiomatic expression – literally “expensive hungry”, it actually means “too expensive”.