La Gita al Mercato
A child's shopping list turns a routine errand into a negotiation with every vendor at the Roman market.
Today's learning
- 1-minute story
- Native narration
- 11 useful words
- 5 comprehension questions
- A1 Italian
Pre-Reading Vocabulary
Review these key words and phrasing examples before you begin reading.
Your Italian story — tap highlighted words when you need help
1 min readÈ sabato mattina e Sofia va al con la sua mamma e il fratello Luca. Sofia ha una lista della spesa lunga un metro, piena di disegni colorati. Davanti alla c'è una signora che grida: "Pesce fresco, oggi!" Luca tira la mamma per la maglia. "Mamma, io voglio vedere i pesci!" Sofia controlla e dice: "Prima e le zucchine, poi i pesci." Al della frutta, Luca sorride e chiede: "Quanto costa un chilo di mele?" Il venditore risponde: "Due euro, piccolo. Per te, un euro e cinquanta!" Sofia guarda la mamma. "Mamma, costano poco. Possiamo comprarle?" La mamma ride e dice di sì. Luca sceglie anche un' enorme per dopo pranzo. Tornano a casa con le borse piene. "Che bella al mercato!" dice Sofia. "E domani si ricomincia!"
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Native Italian narration of this exact text. Keep the transcript visible on the first pass.
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È sabato mattina e Sofia va al mercato con la sua mamma e il fratello Luca.Pause after this line and repeat it aloud without translating. Aim for three clean repetitions.
Show full English translation
It's Saturday morning and Sofia goes to the market with her mom and her brother Luca. Sofia has a shopping list a meter long, full of colorful drawings. In front of the fish shop there is a woman who shouts: "Fresh fish today!" Luca pulls mom by the shirt. "Mom, I want to see the fish!" Sofia checks the list and says: "First the carrots and zucchinis, then the fish." At the fruit stall, Luca smiles and asks: "How much is a kilo of apples?" The seller answers: "Two euros, little one. For you, one euro and fifty!" Sofia looks at mom. "Mom, strawberries cost little. Can we buy them?" Mom laughs and says yes. Luca also picks an enormous watermelon for after lunch. They return home with full bags. "What a nice trip to the market!" says Sofia. "And tomorrow we start again!"
Vocabulary recap
Reading Comprehension Exercise
A1 Italian Reading Comprehension Exercises
1. Where do Sofia and her family go on Saturday morning?
Correct: To the market
Sofia goes to the market with her mom and brother Luca every Saturday morning.
2. What does Sofia have in her hand?
Correct: A shopping list
Sofia has a shopping list a meter long, full of colorful drawings.
3. What does Luca want to see first?
Correct: The fish
Luca pulls mom's shirt and says: "Mom, I want to see the fish!"
4. How much does a kilo of apples cost for Luca?
Correct: One euro and fifty
The seller says: "For you, one euro and fifty!"
5. What does Luca choose for after lunch?
Correct: A watermelon
Luca chooses a huge watermelon for after lunch.
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Patterns to reuse
Asking about prices
Quanto costa un chilo di mele?
How much is a kilo of apples?
Use 'Quanto costa' + item to ask about price.
Quanto costa [item]?
- Quanto costa un chilo di pomodori?
- Quanto costa un mazzo di fiori?
'Quanto costa' is the most common way to ask about the price of something. Use 'Quanto costano' for plural items.
Saying what you want to do
Io voglio vedere i pesci
I want to see the fish
Use 'voglio' + infinitive to express what you want.
Io voglio [infinitive] [object]
- Io voglio comprare le fragole
- Io voglio mangiare un gelato
'Voglio' (I want) is a useful modal verb. It's always followed by an infinitive.
Talking about quantities
Un chilo di mele
A kilo of apples
Use '[quantity] di [item]' to specify amounts.
[quantity] di [item]
- Mezzo chilo di carote
- Un mazzo di basilico
When buying food, use 'di' between the quantity and the item.
Expressing agreement
La mamma ride e dice di sì
Mom laughs and says yes
Use 'dire di sì' to say yes to a request.
[Subject] dice di sì
- Il papà dice di sì
- La nonna dice di sì
'Dire di sì' is the standard way to express agreement or say yes to a request in Italian.
Translator's Note
"This story captures the lively atmosphere of a Roman market through a child's perspective, where a simple shopping list becomes an adventure of negotiation and discovery."
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