Phrases › At the Supermarket › C'è molta coda alla cassa?

C'è molta coda alla cassa?

Is there a long queue at the checkout?

Pronunciation

'Coda' — 'KO-da'. Two syllables, stress on first. In this context 'coda' = queue, not tail.

When to use it

Asking a fellow shopper or staff member about queue status before joining the checkout. Useful for choosing the quickest lane.

What it means

'Coda' = queue (also: tail, traffic jam). 'C'è molta coda' = there's a long queue. 'Fare la coda' = to queue up. 'Fare fila' is an alternative expression for the same thing.

Variations

Qual è la cassa più veloce?

Which is the fastest checkout?

Asking for the quickest lane strategically

C'è molta fila?

Is there a long queue?

'Fila' is a synonym for 'coda' in queue context

Questa cassa è aperta?

Is this checkout open?

Checking before joining a lane

Mini Dialogue

Cliente: Scusi, c'è molta coda alla cassa? Altro cliente: Sì, è sabato pomeriggio — tutte le casse sono piene. La cassa automatica va meglio. Cliente: Ho troppi articoli per la cassa automatica. Altro cliente: Allora la terza da destra è un po' più corta.

Customer: Excuse me, is there a long queue at the checkout? Other customer: Yes, it's Saturday afternoon — all the checkouts are full. The self-checkout is going better. Customer: I have too many items for the self-checkout. Other customer: Then the third from the right is a bit shorter.

Cultural Note

Italian supermarket queues on Saturday afternoons and before public holidays ('vigilia di festività') are legendary. Italians are generally disciplined queue members — cutting is rare but not unknown. Arriving at opening time (usually 8-9am) is the strategic solution.

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