Counter Transaction Basics
Essential phrases for any Italian counter
Essential Counter Questions
Present Tense Transaction Verbs
Prendere (to take): Prendo un caffè - I'll take a coffee
Volere (to want): Vuole altro? - Do you want anything else?
Desiderare (to desire/want): Desidera? - What would you like?
Avere (to have): Ha il resto? - Do you have change?
These verbs power all counter transactions. Learn their present tense and you can handle any purchase!
Ordering Food & Drink
Quick phrases for Italian bars and cafés
Bar Ordering Vocabulary
Building Order Phrases
Pattern: (Vorrei/Prendo) + un/una + item
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Vorrei un caffè | I'd like an espresso |
| Prendo un cappuccino | I'll take a cappuccino |
| Vorrei una pizza | I'd like a pizza |
| Prendo un panino | I'll have a sandwich |
Adding "please": Just add "per favore" at the end - "Vorrei un caffè, per favore"
Payment Vocabulary
Money, change, and receipts in Italian
Money & Payment Words
Numbers for Prices
Essential numbers:
• Uno (1), Due (2), Tre (3), Quattro (4), Cinque (5)
• Dieci (10), Venti (20), Trenta (30), Quaranta (40), Cinquanta (50)
Saying prices:
• €2,50 = "Due euro e cinquanta (centesimi)"
• €5,00 = "Cinque euro"
• €10,80 = "Dieci euro e ottanta"
Often Italians drop "centesimi" and just say the number: "Due e cinquanta"
Names & Spelling
How to give and spell names in Italian
Name & Spelling Phrases
Italian Spelling Alphabet
Common city examples for letters:
• A come Ancona, B come Bologna, C come Como
• M come Milano, N come Napoli, R come Roma
• T come Torino, V come Venezia, F come Firenze
Example: Spelling "Sara"
• "Si scrive S come Savona, A come Ancona, R come Roma, A come Ancona"
This makes your spelling crystal clear over phone or noisy counters!
Quick Counter Phrases
Fast Italian for any purchase situation
Speed Phrases
Complete Transaction Flow
Customer enters: "Buongiorno!"
Staff: "Buongiorno, cosa prendi?" (What are you having?)
Customer: "Vorrei un caffè, per favore" (I'd like an espresso, please)
Staff: "Per qui o da portare via?" (For here or to go?)
Customer: "Per qui" (For here)
Staff: "Altro?" (Anything else?)
Customer: "Nient'altro, grazie" (Nothing else, thanks)
Staff: "Un euro e cinquanta" (€1.50)
Customer pays, staff says: "Ecco lo scontrino" (Here's your receipt)
Customer: "Grazie!" / Staff: "Prego!"
Ready to Handle Counter Transactions?
"Perfetto! Now you know Italian counter vocabulary—'per qui o da portare via,' 'contanti o carta,' numbers, names, everything! Practice these phrases fifty times and they become muscle memory. No more freezing at counters, no more panic. You'll order like a Roman—fast, confident, natural. Andiamo!"