Episode 14 · Living in Italy
Un etto, due etti - buying cheese like an Italian
At an Italian deli nobody says 100 grams. They say un etto.
Sam orders cheese in grams. The shopkeeper answers in etti.
Laura ·
In this lesson
| Italian | Word for word | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Un etto | 100 grams | the unit for cheese, ham, olives |
| Due etti | 200 grams | |
| Mezzo chilo | half a kilo, 500 g | |
| Cosa le do? | what can I get you? | what the shopkeeper asks |
| Basta così, grazie | that's all, thanks | how to finish your order |
Ham and salami sell by the etto too: un etto di prosciutto is about six to eight thin slices.
How many etti of cheese do you buy in a week? Be honest.
The dialogue
Every line from the video, with the English meaning under the Italian.
Laura
Buongiorno! Cosa le do?
Good morning! What can I get you?
Sam
Vorrei... cento grammi di formaggio.
I'd like... a hundred grams of cheese.
Laura
Un etto? Certo!
Un etto? Sure!
Sam
Un etto? What's an etto?
Laura
Un etto è cento grammi. Due etti, duecento.
Un etto is 100 grams. Due etti, 200.
Sam✓ Correct
Allora... due etti, per favore!
Then... two etti, please!
Laura
Ecco a lei. Altro?
Here you are. Anything else?
Sam
Basta così, grazie!
That's all, thanks!
The voices in this video are synthetic and the on-screen host is generated. The Italian itself is written and checked by a native speaker.
Ready to speak, not just watch?
Practise these phrases out loud with Laura in a small group or a private lesson.
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