Do they come in half sizes?
'Mezza' — 'MED-dza'. The 'zz' = 'dz'. Stress on first syllable.
When you're between sizes. Not all Italian shoe brands offer half sizes — worth asking before committing to a size that's slightly off.
'Mezza misura' = half size (literally 'half measure'). 'Ci sono' = there are/do they exist. European sizes often go up in full sizes — half sizes are not universal in Italy.
Il quarantuno e mezzo esiste?
Does forty-one and a half exist?
Asking about a specific half size
Sono tra il quarantuno e il quarantadue.
I'm between forty-one and forty-two.
Explaining the sizing dilemma
Con quello stretto mi conviene prendere il numero più grande?
Since it's tight, should I take the larger size?
Asking for guidance between two sizes
Italian shoe manufacturers are split on half sizes. Luxury brands like Tod's and Church's offer half sizes; many fashion brands don't. For leather dress shoes, erring toward the slightly smaller size is often recommended — they'll stretch.