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PhrasesBargaining at the MarketSi abbassa il prezzo verso la fine del mercato?
B2

Si abbassa il prezzo verso la fine del mercato?

Does the price go down towards the end of the market?

Pronunciation

'Abbassa' — 'ab-BAS-sa'. Three syllables, stress on second. Double 'ss'.

When to use it

A strategic insider question. As Italian markets wind down, food vendors especially discount heavily rather than pack unsold perishables back.

What it means

'Si abbassa il prezzo' = the price goes down (reflexive). 'Verso la fine' = towards the end. 'Del mercato' = of the market. A savvy question that local shoppers ask routinely for fresh produce.

Variations

Vendo tutto alla fine — prezzi liberi.

I sell everything at the end — open prices.

The vendor's version — announcing end-of-day discounts

A che ora inizia a svendere?

What time do you start the clearance?

Asking specifically when the end-of-day discount starts

Prendo tutto quello che rimane — quanto fa?

I'll take everything that's left — how much does it come to?

Bulk end-of-day offer for all remaining stock

Mini Dialogue

Cliente: Si abbassa il prezzo verso la fine del mercato? Venditore di frutta: Sì — all'una meno un quarto svendo tutto. Non riporto mai la roba a casa. Cliente: Torno all'una allora. Venditore: La aspetto — ci sarà buona roba a prezzi stracciati.

Customer: Does the price go down towards the end of the market? Fruit vendor: Yes — at quarter to one I sell everything off. I never bring stuff home. Customer: I'll come back at one then. Vendor: I'll be waiting — there'll be good stuff at rock-bottom prices.

Cultural Note

End-of-market ('fine mercato') is a genuine Italian shopping strategy. Fresh produce vendors — fish, vegetables, bread — drastically reduce prices in the last 30 minutes rather than transport perishables. Arriving at this window is a known local tactic ('fare la fine del mercato').