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PhrasesAt the Post OfficeQuanto tempo ci vuole per la consegna?
A2

Quanto tempo ci vuole per la consegna?

How long does delivery take?

Pronunciation

con-SE-gna — three syllables; the 'gn' is a palatal nasal, like the 'ny' in 'canyon'. Stress on the second syllable.

When to use it

Use this to ask about delivery times before selecting a service. The answer will vary by destination (domestic vs international) and service level.

What it means

'Quanto tempo ci vuole' is the idiomatic Italian for 'how long does it take' — literally 'how much time does it take'. 'Ci vuole' (singular) or 'ci vogliono' (plural, for days) are both used. Delivery times range from next-day (posta celere) to 3–5 business days (ordinaria) for domestic mail.

Variations

Arriva entro domani se la spedisco oggi?

Will it arrive by tomorrow if I send it today?

Asking about next-day delivery possibility

Qual è il servizio più veloce che avete?

What is the fastest service you have?

Open-ended question about fastest options

C'è un servizio espresso internazionale?

Is there an international express service?

Poste Italiane offers EMS (Express Mail Service) internationally

Mini Dialogue

— Quanto tempo ci vuole per la consegna? — Per l'Italia, ordinaria: tre-cinque giorni. Prioritaria: uno-due giorni. — Per la Germania? — Con EMS internazionale, due-tre giorni lavorativi. — Prendo EMS allora.

— How long does delivery take? — For Italy, standard: three to five days. Priority: one to two days. — For Germany? — With international EMS, two to three working days. — I'll take EMS then.

Cultural Note

Italy's domestic postal service has historically been among the slowest in Western Europe. The phrase 'va come la posta' (goes like the mail) is an idiom meaning something is very slow. However, Poste Italiane has improved significantly, and the priority service is now reasonably reliable for domestic deliveries.