How to Ask About a Security Deposit in Italian (Affitto e Caparra)
Learn to ask "How much is the deposit?" in Italian, name the deposit (caparra or deposito cauzionale), and ask clear questions about refund conditions before you sign a rental contract.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you rent a flat in Italy, the landlord usually asks for a security deposit on top of the first month's rent. To protect your money, you need to ask two things: how much it is, and when it comes back. In this lesson you will learn the key words caparra and deposito cauzionale, the question Quanto è la caparra?, and simple phrases to ask about refund conditions. All examples use standard contemporary Italian; small regional differences are noted where they matter.
By the end, you can…
- ask how much the security deposit is in Italian.
- ask when and how the deposit will be refunded.
- understand and use the words caparra and deposito cauzionale.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Quanto è la caparra?
How much is the deposit?
KWAHN-toh eh la ka-PAHR-rah
The most common everyday question. Use it with landlords, agents or friends when talking about a flat.
Quanto è il deposito cauzionale?
How much is the security deposit?
KWAHN-toh eh eel deh-POH-zee-toh kow-tsyo-NAH-leh
The formal, contract-style term. You will see it written in rental agreements; it means the same as caparra in this context.
La caparra è rimborsabile?
Is the deposit refundable?
la ka-PAHR-rah eh reem-bor-SAH-bee-leh
Use this to check whether you get the money back at all. Rimborsabile means refundable.
Quando mi restituisce la caparra?
When will you give me back the deposit?
KWAHN-doh mee reh-stee-TOO-ee-sheh la ka-PAHR-rah
Formal, with a landlord you address as lei. For a friend, say Quando mi restituisci la caparra?
In quali casi la caparra non viene restituita?
In which cases is the deposit not refunded?
een KWAH-lee KAH-zee la ka-PAHR-rah nohn VYEH-neh reh-stee-TOO-ee-tah
A precise question about conditions. Use it before signing, not after a problem starts.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is Quanto è + noun? — "How much is + noun?". Quanto è la caparra? (How much is the deposit?) and Quanto è l'affitto? (How much is the rent?) follow the same shape. Note that quanto agrees with the noun: Quanto è il deposito? uses il because deposito is masculine, while Quanto è la caparra? uses la because caparra is feminine. For a monthly amount you can also ask Quanto viene al mese? (How much does it come to per month?), which is common in spoken Italian.
When to use it
Use caparra in everyday conversation and deposito cauzionale in written contracts and formal meetings. If you want to sound polite with an older landlord or an agency, add per favore: Quanto è la caparra, per favore? When you ask about refunds, be specific: Chiedo quando e come viene restituita la caparra (I'm asking when and how the deposit is returned). In Italy the deposit is normally returned after you leave, once the landlord checks the flat and the final bills; asking Quando mi restituisce la caparra? is a normal, not rude, question.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buongiorno, ho visto l'annuncio per il bilocale in via Roma. Quanto è la caparra?
Good morning, I saw the ad for the one-bedroom flat on Via Roma. How much is the deposit?bwon-JOR-noh, oh VEES-toh lahn-NOON-choh pehr eel bee-loh-KAH-leh een VEE-ah ROH-mah. KWAHN-toh eh la ka-PAHR-rahLa caparra è di due mensilità, quindi milleduecento euro.
The deposit is two months' rent, so one thousand two hundred euros.la ka-PAHR-rah eh dee DOO-eh men-see-lee-TAH, KWEEN-dee meel-leh-doo-eh-CHEN-toh EH-oo-rohCapisco. La caparra è rimborsabile? E quando mi viene restituita?
I see. Is the deposit refundable? And when is it returned to me?ka-PEES-koh. la ka-PAHR-rah eh reem-bor-SAH-bee-leh? eh KWAHN-doh mee VYEH-neh reh-stee-TOO-ee-tahSì, è rimborsabile. La restituiamo entro trenta giorni dalla fine del contratto, se non ci sono danni.
Yes, it's refundable. We return it within thirty days of the end of the contract, if there is no damage.see, eh reem-bor-SAH-bee-leh. la reh-stee-too-EE-ah-moh EN-troh TREHN-tah JOR-nee DAHL-lah FEE-neh del kohn-TRAHT-toh, seh nohn chee SOH-noh DAHN-neeA little context goes a long way
In Italian rentals, caparra and deposito cauzionale both refer to the security deposit, but deposito cauzionale is the term you will find in a written contract. Amounts, refund timing and interest rules can vary by contract and by region, so always ask and, if possible, get the refund conditions in writing. A receipt (ricevuta) for the deposit is normal and useful to keep.
One thing to watch for
Using caparra to mean the monthly rent, as in Quanto è la caparra? when you actually want the rent price.
Try this instead: Caparra is the deposit, not the rent. For the rent, ask Quanto è l'affitto? (How much is the rent?) or Quanto viene al mese? (How much is it per month?). Keep the two words separate: l'affitto is paid monthly, la caparra is paid once and should be returned.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask "How much is the deposit?" in everyday Italian?
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Quanto è la caparra?
This uses the pattern Quanto è + feminine noun. Quanto è il deposito cauzionale? is also correct and more formal, especially in writing.
2You are reading a contract and want the formal term for the security deposit. Which word do you look for?
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deposito cauzionale
Deposito cauzionale is the standard contract term. Caparra is the everyday equivalent and is also acceptable in many contracts, but deposito cauzionale is the safer formal choice.
3Translate: "When will you give me back the deposit?" (formal, to a landlord).
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Quando mi restituisce la caparra?
Restituisce is the formal third-person form for lei. With a friend you would say Quando mi restituisci la caparra? Both ask the same thing; only the register changes.
Ask two questions before you sign: Quanto è la caparra? and Quando mi restituisce la caparra? Then confirm the refund conditions in writing.
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