Italian for English speakers Cafe · Lesson 0

Ordering food

Order at an Italian café — Avete ancora i cornetti? (Do you still have croissants?) — and choose dolce o salato (sweet or savory).

Conversation

  1. Bob Bob

    C'è ancora un cornetto?

    Do you still have a croissant?

    Tip: <C'è> = There is <Ci sono> = There are When asking if there is something (which is different from asking if you can have something), the Italian form is (literally) "there is a croissant?". You might also translate it to "Is there a croissant?"

  2. Kyle Kyle

    Sì. Dolce o salato?

    Yes. Sweet or salty?

    Tip: <o> = Or

  3. Bob Bob

    Dolce, grazie. Con la marmellata

    Sweet, thanks. With marmalade

    Tip: <Con> = With

  4. Kyle Kyle

    Ecco a lei. Un euro e cinquanta, grazie.

    Here you are. €1,50

    Tip: <Ecco a lei> is formal, as Kyle is serving a customer. Informally, you would say <Ecco a te>

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What does ancora mean?

'Still' or 'yet' or 'more'. Avete ancora ...? = 'do you still have ...?'. Ancora un caffè = 'one more coffee'.

Cornetto vs croissant?

Both used in Italy. Il cornetto is the Italian name (sweeter, softer than French croissant). Different from il gelato cornetto (ice cream cone).

Dolce vs salato?

Dolce = sweet (also: dessert). Salato = savory/salty. Common pastry distinction.

Next lesson in Cafe Ordering more food →