Can I have a refund?
'Rimborso' — rim-BOR-so. Roll the 'r' gently.
Use this when you explicitly want money back rather than an exchange. Ask directly but calmly. Many Italian shops will try to offer a voucher or exchange first.
'Posso' is the first-person singular of 'potere' (can/may). Using it as a question is polite and non-confrontational. 'Rimborso' comes from 'rimborsare' (to reimburse). The definite article 'il' is required before 'rimborso'.
Vorrei essere rimborsato/a.
I would like to be reimbursed.
Change -o to -a if you are female.
Preferirei il rimborso al cambio.
I would prefer a refund to an exchange.
Clear preference stated politely.
Mi può restituire i soldi?
Can you give me my money back?
More direct and informal.
Card refunds in Italy can take 3–7 business days to appear. Cash refunds are immediate but shops often avoid them to maintain cash flow. Always ask which method is available.