Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| saldo | /ˈsal.do/ | masculine |
| liquidazione | /li.kwi.datˈt͡sjo.ne/ | feminine |
| svendita | /ˈzven.di.ta/ | feminine |
In Italian, there are several ways to refer to a sale depending on the context. promozione can be used in formal settings to describe a sale referring to a promotional offer, and the formal term ribasso is used to denote a discount. If you are referring to a special deal, the informal term offerta is commonly used.
Which one should you use?
The terms you choose change based on the type of sale. saldo is the standard term for seasonal sales, such as summer or winter sales, in retail stores. liquidazione refers specifically to a sale intended to clear out stock, often because a business is closing or changing ownership. svendita is also used to describe a sale.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of saldo is saldi, which is very frequently seen on shop windows and advertisements.
How do you pronounce it?
saldo is pronounced /ˈsal.do/. The stress is on the first of two syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using vendita to mean a price reduction sale. vendita refers to the general act of selling a product. Instead, use saldo when you mean a sale with reduced prices.
Did you know?
- The word saldare is the verb root of saldo, which can also mean 'to solder' or 'to settle' a debt.
- In Italy, seasonal saldi are strictly regulated by law, meaning shops cannot just hold them whenever they want.
- While saldi means 'sales', the word saldo is also used in banking to mean the 'balance' of an account.
Examples in context
- Ho approfittato di una svendita e comprato tre maglie.I took advantage of a sale and bought three sweaters.This sentence is useful for illustrating the use of svendita.Tatoeba #1535185 by Guybrush88, translation #35728 by CK
- Vado ai saldiI'm going to the sales
- Ho comprato questa giacca scontata ai saldiI bought this discounted jacket during the sales
- Hai visto quella svendita? Ci sono delle offerte incredibili!Did you see that clearance sale? There are incredible offers!
- Questa è un'offerta imperdibileThis is an unmissable sale
- Hai degli sconti?Do you have any discounts?
- Questa borsa è in saldo? Quanto costa scontata?Is this bag on sale? How much is the discounted price?
- Cerco dei vestiti in saldo.I am looking for clothes on sale.
Example conversation
Chiara and Matteo are walking through a shopping mall.
- ChiaraGuarda, quel negozio ha il saldo!Look, that store has a sale!
- MatteoDavvero? Entriamo subito, Matteo.Really? Let's go in right away, Matteo.
- ChiaraSpero di trovare un paio di scarpe.I hope to find a pair of shoes.
- MatteoAnche io, andiamo a vedere.Me too, let's go see.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sale” translations and entries saldo, liquidazione, svendita, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
