Are they ripe?
SO-no ma-TU-ri
Asking about the ripeness of fruit before buying.
Ripeness is a key concern at Italian markets. Vendors take pride in knowing the state of their produce and will often recommend waiting a day or two if the fruit is not yet ripe. They may also squeeze or smell it for you.
È maturo?
Is it ripe?
Singular — for one melon, one avocado
Per quando sono pronti?
When will they be ready?
Asking about fruit that is not yet ripe
Li mangio oggi — vanno bene?
I'm eating them today — are they all right?
Gives context so vendor can select the ripest ones
At a good Italian market, the vendor acts as a guide. It is perfectly normal — even expected — to ask for advice. Touching the fruit yourself, however, is sometimes frowned upon; let the vendor handle the selection.