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PhrasesAt the TobacconistDove si butta il mozzicone?
B1

Dove si butta il mozzicone?

Where do you throw the cigarette butt?

Pronunciation

moz-zi-CO-ne — four syllables; the double 'z' is a geminate /ts/ sound; stress on the third syllable.

When to use it

Use this outside the tobacconist when you've finished a cigarette and are looking for a proper disposal point. Some tabaccherie place ashtrays or butt collection devices near their entrance.

What it means

'Si butta' is the impersonal si construction (one throws/you throw). 'Mozzicone' is the Italian word for cigarette butt. In Italian cities, littering cigarette butts is technically a €30–300 fine, though enforcement varies enormously by municipality.

Variations

C'è un posacenere fuori?

Is there an ashtray outside?

'Posacenere' = ashtray (literally 'ash rest')

Posso fumare qui davanti?

Can I smoke here in front?

Asking about smoking rules near the entrance

Dove trovo un cestino?

Where can I find a bin?

Looking for any rubbish bin to dispose of the butt properly

Mini Dialogue

— Dove si butta il mozzicone? — C'è un posacenere attaccato al muro lì. — Ah, non l'avevo visto. Grazie. — Prego. E ci tengo — qui multano per i mozziconi per terra.

— Where do you throw the cigarette butt? — There's an ashtray attached to the wall there. — Ah, I hadn't seen it. Thank you. — You're welcome. And I care about it — they fine you here for butts on the ground.

Cultural Note

Italian municipalities increasingly enforce anti-littering laws for cigarette butts, which are classified as toxic waste containing nicotine, arsenic, and heavy metals. Rome, Milan, and Florence have run specific anti-butt campaigns. Some tabaccherie have installed dedicated butt collectors to encourage responsible disposal.