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PhrasesBargaining at the MarketÈ troppo caro.
A1

È troppo caro.

It's too expensive.

Pronunciation

'Caro' — 'KA-ro'. Two syllables, stress on first. 'C' before 'a' is hard. Simple and clear.

When to use it

Expressing that the price is too high — the first step in any negotiation. Say it with a friendly tone, not an accusatory one. It's an invitation to negotiate, not an insult.

What it means

'Troppo' (too much) + 'caro' (expensive/dear). 'Caro' is one of the most useful Italian adjectives — also means 'dear' (as in beloved). In market context it means expensive.

Variations

Costa troppo.

It costs too much.

Alternative — uses 'costare' rather than 'essere'

È un po' caro per me.

It's a bit expensive for me.

Softer — 'un po'' makes it less confrontational

Non è nel mio budget.

It's not in my budget.

Modern expression — using 'budget' which is widely understood in Italian

Mini Dialogue

Cliente: Quanto costa questa borsa? Venditore: Sessanta euro, signora. Cliente: Sessanta? È troppo caro. Venditore: Guardi che qualità — pelle vera, cucito a mano. Cinquanta?

Customer: How much does this bag cost? Vendor: Sixty euros, madam. Customer: Sixty? That's too expensive. Vendor: Look at the quality — real leather, hand-sewn. Fifty?

Cultural Note

Saying 'è troppo caro' at an Italian market is not rude — it's an opening move. Italian vendors expect it and often interpret silence or acceptance as paying too much. The phrase signals you're a savvy, engaged buyer.