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PhrasesAt the TobacconistHa una busta di plastica?
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Ha una busta di plastica?

Do you have a plastic bag?

Pronunciation

BU-sta — the 'u' is rounded and short; 'pla-STI-ca' — stress on the second syllable.

When to use it

Use this after making several purchases when you need a bag to carry them. Note that since 2011 Italy has banned non-biodegradable plastic bags, so bags may be paper or biodegradable plastic.

What it means

'Ha una busta' uses the formal 'ha'. Since Italian legislation mandated biodegradable bags, many shops now offer only paper bags (busta di carta) or charge a small fee for bags. In tabaccherie, bags are sometimes provided free with larger purchases.

Variations

Ha una busta di carta?

Do you have a paper bag?

More common now in Italy due to plastic bag regulations

Può mettermi tutto in un sacchetto?

Can you put everything in a bag for me?

'Sacchetto' (small bag) is also very common

Quanto costa la busta?

How much does the bag cost?

Bags may cost €0.10–0.20 — always worth asking

Mini Dialogue

— Ha una busta di plastica? — Abbiamo solo biodegradabile, costa dieci centesimi. — Va bene. — Vuole che ci metta anche i francobolli? — Sì, grazie.

— Do you have a plastic bag? — We only have biodegradable, it costs ten cents. — That's fine. — Shall I put the stamps in too? — Yes, thank you.

Cultural Note

Italy was one of the first countries in Europe to ban traditional plastic bags (sacchetti di plastica). Since 2011, only bags made of biodegradable or compostable materials are legal. Reusable bags (borse riutilizzabili) are commonly available for purchase at tabaccherie.