Significado
Commenting on the price.
Contexto cultural
Bargaining is common in street markets (mercati) but rare in supermarkets or high-end shops. Saying 'È un po' caro' is the standard way to start a negotiation. In the South, commercial interactions are often more social. Commenting on the price can lead to a long conversation about the product's origin. In the fast-paced North, this phrase is used more directly to indicate that a service or product is not competitive in the market. In places like Venice or Florence, 'È un po' caro' is a frequent internal thought for locals regarding 'tourist prices' (prezzi per turisti).
The Shrug
In Italy, accompany this phrase with a slight shoulder shrug and a tilted head to look more authentic and less aggressive.
Gender Agreement
Always check the gender of the object. Saying 'caro' for a 'casa' sounds very 'foreign'.
Significado
Commenting on the price.
The Shrug
In Italy, accompany this phrase with a slight shoulder shrug and a tilted head to look more authentic and less aggressive.
Gender Agreement
Always check the gender of the object. Saying 'caro' for a 'casa' sounds very 'foreign'.
The 'Sconto' Request
Follow this phrase with 'Mi fa un po' di sconto?' (Can you give me a little discount?) to see if the price is negotiable.
Ponte a prueba
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'caro'.
Questa pizza è un po' _______.
'Pizza' is a feminine singular noun, so 'caro' becomes 'cara'.
Which phrase is the most polite way to say a price is high?
You are at a market and the price is too much.
'È un po' caro' is the standard polite way to comment on price.
Match the noun with the correct form of the phrase.
Nouns: 1. Il libro, 2. La casa, 3. I vestiti, 4. Le scarpe
Matches based on gender and number agreement.
Fill in the missing line.
A: Questo orologio costa 500 euro. B: ________. Ho solo 200 euro.
The context of having less money than the price requires a comment on it being expensive.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Caro Agreement
Price Intensity
Cheap
- • Economico
- • A buon mercato
- • Regalato
Mid/High
- • Un po' caro
- • Caruccio
- • Dispendioso
Very High
- • Carissimo
- • Un furto
- • Costa un occhio
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosQuesta pizza è un po' _______.
'Pizza' is a feminine singular noun, so 'caro' becomes 'cara'.
You are at a market and the price is too much.
'È un po' caro' is the standard polite way to comment on price.
Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:
Matches based on gender and number agreement.
A: Questo orologio costa 500 euro. B: ________. Ho solo 200 euro.
The context of having less money than the price requires a comment on it being expensive.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNo, as long as you add 'un po'', it is considered a normal part of commercial conversation.
Yes, but it means 'dear' or 'beloved'. 'Mio caro amico' means 'My dear friend'.
'Costoso' is more formal and technical. 'Caro' is the everyday word used by everyone.
You can say 'molto caro' or 'carissimo'.
Absolutely. 'Il parrucchiere è un po' caro' is very common.
Yes, it is a truncation of 'poco', so the apostrophe is mandatory.
No, it can be slightly sarcastic, meaning 'a bit too pricey for what it is'.
Use 'troppo caro'.
Only in markets or with independent artisans. In chain stores, it's not possible.
It is a single tap of the tongue against the roof of the mouth, not a long trill.
Frases relacionadas
Costa un occhio della testa
similarIt costs an arm and a leg
A buon mercato
contrastCheap / at a good price
Prezzo fisso
specialized formFixed price
Fuori budget
similarOut of budget
