Learn some basic Italian vocabulary and verbs related to shopping and fashion..
Fashion is important business in Italia. Not just for money. We like to dress well in formal occasions, but also for a simple dinner out in centro (downtown). I’m sure you know some Italian fashion brands (Gucci, Prada, Armani, D&G etc), easily available in every important city.
We usually go shopping – fare spese – on saturdays, peeking at store windows – vetrine dei negozi – downtown – centro della città – and visit shopping malls – centro commerciale – now widely spread. I negozi, shops, are normally closed on Sundays – domenica.
- Fare spese
- Negozi
- Vetrine
- Centro della città
- Centro commerciale
- Domenica
All negozi have the equivalent reparto (department) in a shopping mall. So, un negozio di abbigliamento (clothes) becomes reparto abbigliamento (without the preposition “di”) in a mall.
We can buy vestiti da uomo (men’s clothing), vestiti da donna (women’s clothing), vestiti da bambino (children’s clothing), pelletteria (leather goods), scarpe (shoes), accessori (accessories).
You can also find biancheria intima (lingerie), profumi (perfumes), articoli da regalo (gifts), and articoli per la casa (home accessories).
Clothes
- vestito da donna (dress)
- abito da uomo (suit),
- gonna (skirt)
- pantaloni (trousers)
- giacca (jacket)
- camicia (shirt)
- maglietta (T-shirts)
- cappotto (coat)
- sciarpa (scarf)
- cappello (hat)
- guanti (gloves)
- cravatta (tie)
Accessories
If you are interested in jewelry, you want to look for a gioielleria (jewelry store).
- anello (ring)
- bracciale (bracelet)
- collana (necklaces)
- orecchini (earrings)
- orologio (watch)
- oro (gold)
- argento (silver)
- platino (platinum)
- diamante (diamond)
- smeraldo (emerald)
- rubino (rubies)
- perle (pearls)
Pelletteria – Leather goods
- borsa (bag)
- borsetta (purse)
- scarpe (shoes)
- cintura (belt)
- portafoglio (wallet)
- valigia (suitcase)
- borsellino (change purse)
- stivali (boots)
- sandali (sandals)
Intimo – Lingerie
- calze (socks)
- calzini (short socks)
- canottiera (tank shirt)
- reggiseno (bra)
- pigiama
- accappatoio (bathrobe)
- collant (stockings)
Tessuti e materiali
- lana (wool)
- cotone (cotton)
- seta (silk)
- pelle (leather)
- sintetico (acrylic)
- velluto (velvet)
- lino (linen)
Useful phrases
Learn how to try, buy, pay, change your new clothes.
Key verbs
Vorrei comprare una maglietta rossa – I’d like to buy a red t-shirt
- Vorrei…(I’d like to)
- provare (try)
- comprare (buy)
- pagare (pay)
- cambiare (change)
+ the name of the clothes
Colors and sizes
Vorrei comprare una maglietta rossa grande – I’d like to buy a large red t-shirt
Asking American sizes, XS to XXL, is normal although Italian sizes are different. In the example below, I used a Tshirt, so all the colors and adjectives are feminine, according to the feminine noun maglietta.
- Porto la taglia L (I have a L size)
- Vorrei una maglietta…
- rossa (red)
- verde (green)
- gialla (yellow)
- blu
- arancione (orange)
- bianca (white)
- nera (black)
- chiara (light)
- scura (dark)
- a righe (stripes)
- a quadri (checked)
- a pallini (dots)
- La maglietta è troppo… The tshirt is too…
- grande (big)
- piccola (small)
- stretta (tight)
- larga (large)
- leggera (light – weight)
- pesante (heavy)
- cara (expensive)
- economica (cheap)
- Posso cambiare? Can I change?
Thanks for reading. Try the quiz and check your language skills!
Ready for the next step?
All our classes are live on Zoom with a native Italian teacher, in small groups. If this lesson matches your level, take it further with real practice.
Milano A2-B1
Small group course · live on Zoom · native teacher
Move from the basics to real conversations, step by step, with a native Italian teacher who keeps the group small and the pace right for you.
- Small groups, max 4 students — weekly live Zoom lessons
- Grammar, vocabulary, listening and writing in every cycle
- Materials in Italian + English, beginner-friendly
- Homework after each lesson, corrected by your teacher
Individual classes
One-to-one · any level · live on Zoom
Private lessons with your dedicated native Italian teacher, fully tailored to your goals and schedule, from absolute beginner to advanced.
- 55-minute individual Zoom lessons, your dedicated teacher
- Personalised level assessment included
- Interactive online materials — homework after each lesson
- Flexible weekly schedule or pay-as-you-go package
