A1 Collocation तटस्थ

a costo zero

At no cost

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use 'a costo zero' to describe products, services, or actions that require no financial investment or payment.

  • Means: Completely free of charge, with no hidden fees or expenses.
  • Used in: Business proposals, political promises, and everyday shopping contexts.
  • Don't confuse: With 'libero', which means 'free' as in 'unoccupied' or 'at liberty'.
💰 + 🚫 = 🆓

Explanation at your level:

At this level, just remember that 'a costo zero' means 'free'. You can use it when you talk about shopping or apps. It is like the word 'gratis'. Use it after a noun, like 'un caffè a costo zero'. It is very easy because it never changes.
In A2, you can start using 'a costo zero' in more professional situations. If you are writing a simple email about a service, this phrase sounds better than 'gratis'. Remember it is used for money, not for 'free time'. You can use it with the verb 'essere'.
At the intermediate level, you should recognize 'a costo zero' as a common collocation in Italian news and media. It often appears in discussions about the economy or government. You should be able to distinguish it from 'libero' and 'gratuito' based on the context of financial cost versus general freedom.
For B2 learners, 'a costo zero' is an essential part of 'economese' (economic jargon). You should understand its rhetorical use in politics—how it is used to frame reforms as painless and efficient. You can use it in formal essays to discuss sustainable development or corporate social responsibility where financial impact is a key factor.
At this advanced stage, you should analyze the phrase as a fixed prepositional locution. Notice how it functions as an indeclinable modifier. You should be able to use it in nuanced debates about fiscal policy, contrasting 'interventi a costo zero' with 'investimenti strutturali', and understand the subtle irony often attached to it in satirical contexts.
Near-native mastery involves recognizing the cognitive linguistic framing of 'zero' as a conceptual anchor for efficiency. You can evaluate the phrase's role in the 'neoliberista' discourse of the last thirty years in Italy. You should be able to deploy it with perfect pragmatic timing, perhaps even using it metaphorically to describe social interactions that require no emotional effort.

मतलब

Free.

🌍

सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि

The 'Riforma a costo zero' is a famous political trope. It refers to the government's attempt to change laws without spending money, often criticized as being unrealistic. In the world of Italian startups, 'a costo zero' is the goal for customer acquisition (CAC), meaning getting users through word-of-mouth. Italy has many 'online-only' banks that market themselves exclusively with the 'a costo zero' slogan to compete with traditional banks. When someone does you a big favor, saying 'è a costo zero' is a way to humbly decline payment or a return favor.

💡

Sound like a pro

Use 'a costo zero' in business emails instead of 'gratis' to sound more professional.

⚠️

The 'A' is key

Don't forget the 'a'. Saying just 'costo zero' sounds like a broken telegram.

मतलब

Free.

💡

Sound like a pro

Use 'a costo zero' in business emails instead of 'gratis' to sound more professional.

⚠️

The 'A' is key

Don't forget the 'a'. Saying just 'costo zero' sounds like a broken telegram.

💬

Political Sarcasm

Be aware that in politics, this phrase is often used sarcastically to mean 'it's impossible'.

खुद को परखो

Complete the sentence with the correct phrase.

Ho scaricato un'enciclopedia online ___ ___ ___.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: a costo zero

We use 'a costo zero' to indicate that the download did not cost any money.

Which sentence is correct for 'I am free tomorrow'?

Come si dice 'I am free tomorrow'?

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: Sono libero domani.

'Libero' refers to personal time, while 'a costo zero' refers to money.

Match the phrase to the situation.

Where would you most likely see 'A Costo Zero'?

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: A bank advertisement

Banks use this phrase to promote accounts without monthly fees.

Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.

A: 'Quanto costa il corso?' B: 'Nulla, è ___ ___ ___.'

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: a costo zero

The context 'Nulla' (nothing) requires a phrase meaning free.

🎉 स्कोर: /4

विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स

When to use 'A Costo Zero'

💰

Money

  • • Apps
  • • Bank accounts
  • • Shipping
🚫

Not for...

  • • Free time
  • • Freedom
  • • Empty seats

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

10 सवाल

Yes, but 'a costo zero' is more formal and common in business or news.

No, use 'libero' if a person is free.

Yes, 'a', 'costo', and 'zero' must stay together.

Because it sounds like they are improving things without raising taxes.

No, the phrase is fixed in the singular.

Yes, it is standard Italian used from North to South.

The opposite would be 'a caro prezzo' (at a high price) or 'molto costoso'.

No, for free time use 'tempo libero'.

Not at all. It's very neutral and safe for work.

Extremely common, especially for banks and phone companies.

संबंधित मुहावरे

🔄

Gratis

synonym

Free of charge

🔗

In omaggio

similar

As a gift

🔗

Senza impegno

builds on

No obligation

🔗

A sbafo

specialized form

To eat/get for free at someone else's expense

कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें

🏦

At the Bank

Cliente: Buongiorno, vorrei aprire un conto.

Impiegato: Certamente, abbiamo un'offerta a costo zero per i giovani.

formal
🛒

Shopping Online

Utente: Quanto costa la spedizione?

Sito Web: La spedizione è a costo zero per ordini sopra i 50 euro.

neutral
💼

Job Interview

Candidato: Posso portare il mio computer?

Manager: Sì, l'uso della rete aziendale è a costo zero per i dipendenti.

formal
☕

With a Friend

Giulia: Ti piace il mio nuovo gioco?

Luca: Bello! È costato molto?

Giulia: No, l'ho preso a costo zero con i punti del supermercato.

informal
🏛️

Government Office

Cittadino: C'è una tassa per questo documento?

Funzionario: No, il rinnovo è a costo zero quest'anno.

formal
🛠️

Tech Support

Tecnico: Dobbiamo aggiornare il sistema.

Cliente: È un servizio a costo zero?

Tecnico: Sì, è incluso nella garanzia.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the '0' in 'Zero' as an empty wallet that stays full because you didn't spend anything.

Visual Association

Imagine a price tag on a shiny new car, but instead of numbers, there is just a giant, friendly green '0'.

Rhyme

Costo zero, affare vero! (Zero cost, a real deal!)

Story

Marco wants to learn Italian but has no money. He finds a library that offers books 'a costo zero'. He studies hard and now he speaks perfectly without spending a single Euro.

Word Web

gratisprezzosoldiportafoglioeconomiarisparmioomaggio

चैलेंज

Go through your phone and find three apps that were 'a costo zero'. Say the sentence out loud: 'Questa app è a costo zero'.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

a coste cero

Uses 'coste' instead of 'costo' in Spain, though 'costo' is used in Latin America.

French high

à coût zéro

Slightly more formal than the Italian version.

German moderate

zum Nulltarif

Often implies a bit of skepticism or a 'freebie' mentality.

Japanese high

コストゼロ (kosuto zero)

Does not use a preposition like 'a'.

Arabic partial

بدون تكلفة (bidun taklufa)

More literal and less of a 'catchphrase' than the Italian version.

Chinese high

零成本 (líng chéngběn)

Can be used as a compound noun more easily than in Italian.

Korean high

비용 제로 (biyong jero)

Uses the English loanword 'zero' (jero).

Portuguese high

a custo zero

None; the usage is perfectly parallel.

Easily Confused

a costo zero बनाम Libero

Both can be translated as 'free' in English.

Use 'libero' for people or empty spaces; use 'a costo zero' for money.

a costo zero बनाम Gratuito

They are very close synonyms.

'Gratuito' is an adjective; 'a costo zero' is a phrase. 'Gratuito' sounds slightly more elegant.

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (10)

Yes, but 'a costo zero' is more formal and common in business or news.

No, use 'libero' if a person is free.

Yes, 'a', 'costo', and 'zero' must stay together.

Because it sounds like they are improving things without raising taxes.

No, the phrase is fixed in the singular.

Yes, it is standard Italian used from North to South.

The opposite would be 'a caro prezzo' (at a high price) or 'molto costoso'.

No, for free time use 'tempo libero'.

Not at all. It's very neutral and safe for work.

Extremely common, especially for banks and phone companies.

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