Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'a pagamento' to describe services, entries, or features that require you to pay a fee rather than being free.
- Means: It indicates that a service or item requires a monetary fee.
- Used in: Parking signs, museum entries, app features, and hotel services.
- Don't confuse: Don't use it for the price of a physical loaf of bread.
Erklärung auf deinem Niveau:
Bedeutung
Requiring money.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Most Italian beaches are divided into 'spiaggia libera' (free) and 'stabilimenti balneari' (paid). In the latter, everything from the chair to the shower is 'a pagamento'. While water is often 'a pagamento' in restaurants, some traditional bars might give you a small glass of water for free with your coffee. Always check! In major cities like Rome or Florence, public toilets are almost always 'a pagamento'. Keep some coins (50c/1€) ready. State museums are 'a pagamento', but many are free on the first Sunday of the month ('Domenica al Museo').
Look for the Blue
In Italy, blue lines on the pavement always mean 'parcheggio a pagamento'. White lines are usually free!
Not for Bread
Don't use this for physical items in a shop. Use 'Quanto costa?' instead.
Look for the Blue
In Italy, blue lines on the pavement always mean 'parcheggio a pagamento'. White lines are usually free!
Not for Bread
Don't use this for physical items in a shop. Use 'Quanto costa?' instead.
The 'Coperto'
In restaurants, the 'coperto' (cover charge) is a form of 'servizio a pagamento' for the bread and table setting. It's standard in Italy.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct phrase.
In questo hotel, il parcheggio non è gratis, è ______.
The standard phrase to indicate a service requires a fee is 'a pagamento'.
Which sign would you see in an Italian city for a paid parking zone?
Scegli l'opzione corretta:
Blue lines on the street indicate 'Parcheggio a pagamento'.
Match the situation to the correct description.
Situation: You want to use a premium filter on a photo app.
Premium features in apps are described as 'a pagamento'.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
A: 'Scusi, l'ingresso al parco è libero?' B: 'No, l'ingresso è ______.'
The opposite of 'libero' (free/open) in this context is 'a pagamento'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Gratis vs. A Pagamento
Aufgabensammlung
5 AufgabenIn questo hotel, il parcheggio non è gratis, è ______.
The standard phrase to indicate a service requires a fee is 'a pagamento'.
Scegli l'opzione corretta:
Blue lines on the street indicate 'Parcheggio a pagamento'.
Situation: You want to use a premium filter on a photo app.
Premium features in apps are described as 'a pagamento'.
A: 'Scusi, l'ingresso al parco è libero?' B: 'No, l'ingresso è ______.'
The opposite of 'libero' (free/open) in this context is 'a pagamento'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt is neutral. You can use it with a friend or with a bank manager.
Only if the service has already been paid for. If you mean it *requires* payment, use 'a pagamento'.
The most common opposites are 'gratis', 'gratuito', or 'libero'.
No, it is invariable. 'Un servizio a pagamento', 'Molti servizi a pagamento'.
No, that would be very strange and likely offensive. Use it for services and objects.
Yes, very often to describe 'premium' tiers of service.
It's a fixed idiom. Prepositions in Italian often don't follow logic; you just have to memorize them!
Yes, but 'oneroso' is much more formal and usually found in legal contracts.
Ask: 'È gratis?' or 'È a pagamento?'
In hotels, it's becoming mostly free, but in some luxury hotels or remote areas, it might still be 'a pagamento'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
gratis
contrastFree of charge
a scrocco
similarFor free (by mooching)
a titolo oneroso
specialized formFor a fee (legal term)
in pagamento
similarIn the process of being paid
Wo du es verwendest
At a Hotel
Turista: Scusi, la colazione è inclusa?
Receptionist: No, la colazione è a pagamento, costa dieci euro.
Parking your car
Guidatore: Possiamo parcheggiare qui?
Amico: Sì, ma guarda le linee blu: è a pagamento.
In a Restaurant
Cliente: Vorrei un altro po' di pane, per favore.
Cameriere: Certo, ma il secondo cestino è a pagamento.
Using an App
Utente A: Questa app per le foto è bellissima!
Utente B: Sì, ma i filtri migliori sono a pagamento.
Visiting a Museum
Visitatore: L'ingresso è libero oggi?
Guida: No, oggi l'ingresso è a pagamento per tutti.
At a Beach Club
Ragazzo: Andiamo in quella spiaggia?
Ragazza: No, lì l'ombrellone è a pagamento e costa troppo.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of the 'A' as 'At' and 'Pagamento' as 'Payment'. You are 'At the point of Payment' to get what you want.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a blue parking sign with a giant Euro coin stuck to it. The coin is blocking your way until you pay.
Rhyme
Se non è un complimento, è a pagamento! (If it's not a compliment, it's for a fee!)
Story
Marco goes to a beautiful beach in Italy. He sees a sign: 'Spiaggia a Pagamento'. He realizes he forgot his wallet. He has to stay on the small, crowded 'Spiaggia Libera' (free beach) instead. Now he never forgets that 'a pagamento' means 'bring your wallet'.
In Other Languages
In Spanish, it's 'de pago'. In French, it's 'payant'. They all share the same Latin root for 'pay'.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Next time you are on an Italian website or app, look for the word 'pagamento'. Try to find three things that are 'a pagamento' and three that are 'gratis'.
Review this phrase alongside 'gratis' to create a strong mental contrast.
Aussprache
Short, open 'a' as in 'father'.
Stress is on the 'men' syllable. The 'g' is hard like in 'goat'.
Formalitätsspektrum
La connessione Wi-Fi è soggetta a tariffazione. (Internet access)
Il Wi-Fi è a pagamento. (Internet access)
Il Wi-Fi si paga. (Internet access)
Il Wi-Fi è a scrocco? No, devi sganciare. (Internet access)
Derived from the Italian noun 'pagamento' (payment) preceded by the preposition 'a' (at/to).
Wusstest du?
The root 'pax' (peace) is hidden inside 'pagamento'. Paying your bills is literally keeping the peace!
Kulturelle Hinweise
Most Italian beaches are divided into 'spiaggia libera' (free) and 'stabilimenti balneari' (paid). In the latter, everything from the chair to the shower is 'a pagamento'.
“Andiamo alla spiaggia libera o a quella a pagamento?”
While water is often 'a pagamento' in restaurants, some traditional bars might give you a small glass of water for free with your coffee. Always check!
“L'acqua con il caffè è a pagamento?”
In major cities like Rome or Florence, public toilets are almost always 'a pagamento'. Keep some coins (50c/1€) ready.
“Il bagno in stazione è a pagamento.”
State museums are 'a pagamento', but many are free on the first Sunday of the month ('Domenica al Museo').
“Oggi il museo non è a pagamento, è la prima domenica del mese!”
Gesprächseinstiege
Scusi, sa se il parcheggio qui vicino è a pagamento?
Preferisci le app gratis con pubblicità o quelle a pagamento senza pubblicità?
Secondo te, i musei dovrebbero essere sempre gratis o a pagamento?
Häufige Fehler
Per pagamento
A pagamento
L1 Interference
Questa mela è a pagamento.
Questa mela costa un euro.
L1 Interference
Il parcheggio è pagato.
Il parcheggio è a pagamento.
L1 Interference
Un servizio di pagamento.
Un servizio a pagamento.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
de pago
Uses 'de' instead of 'a'.
payant
It's an adjective that agrees with the noun, unlike the Italian phrase.
kostenpflichtig
It's a single long word rather than a phrase.
有料 (yūryō)
It's a noun/adjective compound, not a prepositional phrase.
بأجر (bi-ajr)
The word 'ajr' can also mean 'reward' in religious contexts.
付费 (fùfèi)
Often used more like a verb than the Italian phrase.
유료 (yuryo)
Used as a prefix to nouns (e.g., yuryo-jucha for paid parking).
a pagamento / pago
Brazilian Portuguese prefers the past participle 'pago'.
Spotted in the Real World
“Servizio di ristorazione a pagamento a bordo.”
On a Frecciarossa train informing passengers that food is not included in the ticket.
“Link in bio per i contenuti a pagamento.”
A creator referring to their OnlyFans or Patreon content.
“Da domani i sacchetti dell'ortofrutta saranno a pagamento.”
News about a new law requiring shops to charge for plastic bags.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners use 'pagato' (paid) to describe a service that requires a fee.
Use 'pagato' for the past action (I paid) and 'a pagamento' for the rule (It requires payment).
Learners use 'costoso' (expensive) when they just mean 'not free'.
'A pagamento' can be very cheap (10 cents); 'costoso' always means a high price.
Häufig gestellte Fragen (10)
It is neutral. You can use it with a friend or with a bank manager.
usage contextsOnly if the service has already been paid for. If you mean it *requires* payment, use 'a pagamento'.
grammar mechanicsThe most common opposites are 'gratis', 'gratuito', or 'libero'.
basic understandingNo, it is invariable. 'Un servizio a pagamento', 'Molti servizi a pagamento'.
grammar mechanicsNo, that would be very strange and likely offensive. Use it for services and objects.
common mistakesYes, very often to describe 'premium' tiers of service.
usage contextsIt's a fixed idiom. Prepositions in Italian often don't follow logic; you just have to memorize them!
grammar mechanicsYes, but 'oneroso' is much more formal and usually found in legal contracts.
comparisonsAsk: 'È gratis?' or 'È a pagamento?'
practical tipsIn hotels, it's becoming mostly free, but in some luxury hotels or remote areas, it might still be 'a pagamento'.
cultural usage
