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PhrasesAt the Clothing StoreCerco un regalo per mia moglie.
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Cerco un regalo per mia moglie.

I'm looking for a gift for my wife.

Pronunciation

'Moglie' — 'MOL-yeh'. The 'gl' before 'i' creates a palatal 'ly' sound. One of the trickier Italian sounds.

When to use it

When shopping for someone else. Staff will ask a series of helpful questions about size, style and budget to guide you to the right choice.

What it means

'Cerco' (I'm looking for) + noun. 'Per mia moglie' — note: no article before 'mia moglie' because family members in singular don't take the article. Exception: plural or with adjective.

Variations

Cerco un regalo per mio marito.

I'm looking for a gift for my husband.

'Marito' = husband — same article rule applies

È per mia figlia, ha dodici anni.

It's for my daughter, she's twelve.

Adding age helps staff find appropriate options

Non so che taglia porta.

I don't know what size she takes.

Common situation — staff will help you estimate

Mini Dialogue

Cliente: Cerco un regalo per mia moglie. Non so molto di moda. Commessa: Non si preoccupi. Quanti anni ha? E che stile preferisce? Cliente: Cinquant'anni. Classica, elegante. Commessa: Abbiamo delle bellissime bluse in seta che vanno benissimo come regalo.

Customer: I'm looking for a gift for my wife. I don't know much about fashion. Assistant: Don't worry. How old is she? And what style does she prefer? Customer: Fifty years old. Classic, elegant. Assistant: We have some beautiful silk blouses that make excellent gifts.

Cultural Note

Italians take gift-giving in fashion very seriously — it's a way of showing you know someone's taste. Shop assistants are experienced at guiding gift-buyers and won't judge you for not knowing sizes or brands.