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PhrasesAt the HostelC'è una lavanderia a gettoni vicino?
B1informal

C'è una lavanderia a gettoni vicino?

Is there a coin laundry nearby?

Pronunciation

get-TO-ni — three syllables, stress on the second. 'Gettoni' = tokens/coins.

When to use it

Ask the hostel staff who know the local area. Italian coin laundries are called 'lavanderie a gettoni' or 'lavanderie self-service'.

What it means

'Lavanderia a gettoni' = coin-operated laundry (literally 'token laundry'). 'Vicino' = nearby. Self-service laundries are increasingly common in Italian cities and are far cheaper than hostel laundry services. Staff will know the nearest one.

Variations

L'ostello ha un servizio di lavanderia?

Does the hostel have a laundry service?

Some Italian hostels offer in-house laundry at a per-item or per-kilo charge

Quanto costa una lavatrice?

How much does one washing machine load cost?

Coin laundries in Italy typically cost €3–5 per wash and €1–2 for drying

I vestiti si asciugano in quanto tempo?

How long does it take for clothes to dry?

A tumble dryer load takes 30–40 minutes at most Italian coin laundries

Mini Dialogue

— C'è una lavanderia a gettoni vicino? — Sì, a tre minuti a piedi in Via del Corso 45. Aperta fino alle ventidue. — Costa molto? — Tre euro la lavatrice, due l'asciugatrice.

— Is there a coin laundry nearby? — Yes, three minutes on foot at Via del Corso 45. Open until ten. — Is it expensive? — Three euros for the washing machine, two for the dryer.

Cultural Note

Coin laundries ('lavanderie self-service') in Italian cities are a traveller's essential. They are clean, efficient, and inexpensive. Staff usually speak enough English or use universal symbols for machines. Bring your own detergent powder or buy it from a vending machine at the laundry.