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PhrasesAt the Shoe ShopQuanto costano in totale?
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Quanto costano in totale?

How much do they cost in total?

Pronunciation

'Totale' — 'to-TA-le'. Three syllables, stress on second.

When to use it

When buying multiple items — shoes plus care products, for example. Checking the total before going to the till.

What it means

'In totale' = in total. 'Costano' is third-person plural of 'costare' — used because 'scarpe' is plural. 'Quanto costa?' for a single item; 'Quanto costano?' for multiple.

Variations

Quanto vengono in tutto?

How much does it come to altogether?

'Venire' used for cost — very Italian: 'viene/vengono'

Il prezzo è tutto compreso?

Is the price all inclusive?

Checking for hidden extras

C'è lo sconto se prendo tutto?

Is there a discount if I take everything?

Asking for a bundle discount

Mini Dialogue

Cliente: Prendo le scarpe, la crema e la spazzola. Quanto costano in totale? Commessa: Le scarpe centosettanta, la crema quindici, la spazzola dodici. In totale centonovantasette euro. Cliente: Fa il prezzo tondo a centonovanta? Commessa: Va bene, centonovanta.

Customer: I'll take the shoes, the cream and the brush. How much do they cost in total? Assistant: The shoes one hundred and seventy, the cream fifteen, the brush twelve. In total one hundred and ninety-seven euros. Customer: Can you round it to one hundred and ninety? Assistant: Fine, one hundred and ninety.

Cultural Note

Asking for a small round-number discount on a total purchase is perfectly acceptable in Italian independent shops. The key is to do it politely and at the end, not at the start. It's a sign of an engaged customer, not a cheapskate.