What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of quanto (how much), costa (costs) and questo (this).
Which one should you use?
You can use the alternative Quanto viene questo? to ask "How much does this come to?", utilizing the verb venire (to come).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the phrase changes depending on the gender and number of the objects you are asking about. If the item is a feminine noun, change questo to questa to get quanto costa questa? When asking about multiple masculine objects, change the verb to costano and the pronoun to questi to get quanto costano questi? For multiple feminine objects, use both costano and queste to get quanto costano queste?
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈkwan.to ˈkɔs.ta ˈkwes.to/. It has 6 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The Italian language has a specific way of expressing 'too expensive' by using the phrase costa un occhio della testa, which means it costs an eye from the head.
- In some Italian regions, people may use the phrase a quanto sta? to ask for the current market price of commodities like fruit or fish. This translates to 'at how much does it stand?'
- The word quanto is a cognate of the English word 'quantum'. Both derive from the Latin word for 'how much' or 'how great'.
Examples in context
- Scusi, quanto costa questa borsa?Excuse me, how much does this bag cost?
- Mi può dire il prezzo di questo vestito, per favore?Can you tell me the price of this dress, please?
- Scusa, quanto viene una pizza margherita?Excuse me, how much is a margherita pizza?
Example conversation
Chiara and Francesco are shopping at a market.
- ChiaraGuarda che bella borsa! Quanto costa questo?Look at this beautiful bag! How much is this?
- FrancescoCosta venti euro, Chiara.It costs twenty euros, Chiara.
- ChiaraÈ un prezzo molto buono.That is a very good price.
- FrancescoSì, Francesco concorda con te.Yes, Francesco agrees with you.
