Italian listening pratice At the fruit vendor’s [A1]

Italian listening pratice: At the fruit vendor (Level A1)

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This conversation is simple and useful for those who are learning Italian, with everyday vocabulary such as fruit, quantity and expressions for shopping. The conversation is at level A1, so simple and suitable for beginners.

Scene: At the greengrocer’s

Characters:

  • Customer (female): She is looking for fresh fruit.
  • Greengrocer (male): He is the seller of fruit and vegetables.

[The scene takes place in a fruit and vegetable shop. The customer enters and approaches the fruit stand.]

Cliente:
Buongiorno!
Good morning!

Fruttivendolo:
Buongiorno! Come posso aiutarti?
Good morning! How can I help you?

Cliente:
Vorrei comprare della frutta. Che frutta fresca c’è oggi?
I’d like to buy some fruit. What fresh fruit do you have today?

Fruttivendolo:
Oggi ho delle belle mele, banane, arance e anche delle fragole. Vuoi provare qualcosa in particolare?
Today I have some nice apples, bananas, oranges, and also strawberries. Would you like to try something in particular?

Cliente:
Le mele sono buone? Ho voglia di mele.
Are the apples good? I feel like having apples.

Fruttivendolo:
Sì, sono molto dolci e fresche, perfette per uno spuntino. Le prendi?
Yes, they are very sweet and fresh, perfect for a snack. Would you like some?

Cliente:
Sì, prendo un chilo di mele, per favore.
Yes, I’ll take one kilo of apples, please.

Fruttivendolo:
Va bene, un chilo di mele. Cos’altro ti serve?
Alright, one kilo of apples. What else do you need?

Cliente:
Vorrei anche delle banane e delle fragole.
I’d also like some bananas and some strawberries.

Fruttivendolo:
Le banane sono molto buone, ma le fragole sono in offerta oggi, se vuoi. Un cestino di fragole costa 2 euro.
The bananas are very good, but the strawberries are on sale today, if you want. A basket of strawberries costs 2 euros.

Cliente:
Ok, prendo anche un cestino di fragole. Quanto pago in tutto?
Okay, I’ll also take a basket of strawberries. How much do I owe you in total?

Fruttivendolo:
Allora, hai un chilo di mele, delle banane e il cestino di fragole. Il totale è 6 euro.
So, you have one kilo of apples, some bananas, and the basket of strawberries. The total is 6 euros.

Cliente:
Perfetto, ecco 7 euro. Tieni il resto.
Perfect, here’s 7 euros. Keep the change.

Fruttivendolo:
Grazie! Buona giornata e a presto!
Thank you! Have a good day and see you soon!

Cliente:
Grazie, buona giornata anche a te!
Thanks, have a good day too!

Text analysis: At the fruit vendor’s

This conversation takes place between a customer and a fruit vendor. It is useful for learning vocabulary related to shopping, especially buying fruit, and for practicing common verbs and expressions used in everyday conversations.

Useful vocabulary:

  • Cliente – Customer
  • Fruttivendolo – Fruit vendor / Greengrocer
  • Frutta – Fruit
  • Mele – Apples
  • Banane – Bananas
  • Arance – Oranges
  • Fragole – Strawberries
  • Chilo – Kilo (kilogram)
  • Cestino – Basket
  • Offerta – Offer / Sale
  • Prezzo – Price (implied)

Important verbs and expressions:

  • Buongiorno! – Good morning! (Greeting)
  • Come posso aiutarti? – How can I help you? (Offering help)
  • Vorrei… – I would like… (Polite way to ask for something)
  • C’è / Ci sono – There is / There are
    • Che frutta fresca c’è oggi? – What fresh fruit is there today?
  • Avere – To have
    • Ho delle mele – I have some apples
  • Essere – To be
    • Le mele sono buone? – Are the apples good?
  • Volere – To want
    • Ho voglia di mele – I feel like having apples
  • Prendere – To take / To get
    • Prendo un chilo di mele – I’ll take one kilo of apples
  • Costare – To cost
    • Un cestino di fragole costa 2 euro – A basket of strawberries costs 2 euros
  • Pagare – To pay
    • Quanto pago in tutto? – How much do I pay in total?
  • Tenere il resto – Keep the change
  • Grazie, buona giornata! – Thank you, have a good day! (Common closing phrase)

Grammar and communication tips:

  • The phrase “Vorrei” (I would like) is a polite form of “voglio” (I want). It’s commonly used in shops, restaurants, and formal situations.
  • Using quantities like “un chilo” (a kilo) or “un cestino” (a basket) helps to talk specifically about how much of something you want.
  • “Hai bisogno di altro?” or “Cos’altro ti serve?” – both are ways to ask if the person wants something more.
  • Phrases like “ecco” (here you go) and “tieni il resto” (keep the change) are part of common transactional dialogues in Italian.

You can also find this conversation on this video (minute 04:16).

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