Do you have a ballpoint pen?
SFERA — the 'sf' cluster is pronounced in one breath; 'sf' as in 'sphere' but with Italian clarity.
Use this when you need a pen to fill out a form or write something down at the counter. Tabaccherie keep pens handy and often sell basic stationery.
'Una penna a sfera' is the Italian term for a ballpoint pen (literally 'ball pen'). 'A sfera' distinguishes it from a fountain pen (penna stilografica) or felt-tip (pennarello). It is a very common request since customers need pens to fill out bollettini and forms.
Posso usare una sua penna un momento?
May I use one of your pens for a moment?
Asking to borrow rather than buy — very common
Ha un pennarello?
Do you have a felt-tip marker?
'Pennarello' = marker/felt-tip pen
Vende matite?
Do you sell pencils?
Basic stationery sometimes stocked
Italian tabaccherie are also administrative hubs where customers fill out official forms. Shopkeepers routinely offer their pens to customers and often help with form compilation, especially for older clients unfamiliar with bureaucratic paperwork.