How to Say 'This One Is Cheaper/Bigger/Fresher' in Italian
Learn to compare items while shopping in Italian: say 'this one is cheaper, bigger, fresher' using questo/quello and comparative adjectives.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you shop in Italy, you often need to compare products directly: this tomato is fresher, that bag is cheaper, this one is bigger. In this lesson you will learn to point at an item and describe it with a comparative adjective. The key pattern is simple: the demonstrative adjective (questo for 'this', quello for 'that') agrees in gender and number with the noun, and the adjective follows. You will also learn the words più (more) and meno (less) for explicit comparisons, and the irregular forms migliore (better) and peggiore (worse). By the end, you will be able to say 'This one is cheaper', 'That one is bigger', and 'This one is fresher' naturally and correctly.
By the end, you can…
- point to an item and say 'this one is cheaper' or 'that one is bigger' in Italian.
- use the adjectives economico, grande, and fresco in the correct gender and number.
- form basic comparative sentences with più and meno.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Questo è più economico.
This one is cheaper.
KWEH-stoh eh pyoo eh-KOH-noh-mee-koh
Use for a masculine singular item, like a phone or a shirt. 'Questo' points to something near you.
Questa è più grande.
This one is bigger.
KWEH-stah eh pyoo GRAHN-deh
Use for a feminine singular item, like a bag or a pizza. 'Grande' means big in size, not old (for people, use 'grande' carefully).
Questo è più fresco.
This one is fresher.
KWEH-stoh eh pyoo FREH-skoh
Common for food: fish, vegetables, cheese. 'Fresco' agrees with the noun: fresco/fresca/freschi/fresche.
Quello è meno caro.
That one is less expensive.
KWEHL-loh eh MEH-noh KAH-roh
Use 'quello' for an item farther away. 'Meno caro' is a polite way to say cheaper; 'economico' also works.
Questa è la più fresca.
This one is the freshest.
KWEH-stah eh lah pyoo FREH-skah
Superlative: 'la più fresca' = the freshest (feminine). Use 'il più fresco' for masculine.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is: demonstrative + è + più/meno + adjective. The demonstrative must agree with the noun it replaces. For masculine singular: 'Questo è più economico.' For feminine singular: 'Questa è più grande.' For plural: 'Questi sono più freschi' (these are fresher, masculine) or 'Queste sono più fresche' (feminine). The adjective also agrees: economico/economica/economici/economiche; grande/grande/grandi/grandi; fresco/fresca/freschi/fresche. If you want to say 'this one' without repeating the noun, you can use 'questo' or 'questa' alone, as in 'Questo è più buono' (This one tastes better). Note that 'buono' has a regular comparative: 'più buono' (more good), used especially for food and taste; the irregular form 'migliore' (better) is used for quality in general, as in 'Questo è migliore' (This one is better).
When to use it
Use these phrases when you are choosing between two or more items in a shop or market. Point to the item and say the phrase. For example, at a fruit stand: 'Questa è più fresca' (This one is fresher). At a clothing store: 'Questo è più economico' (This one is cheaper). If you want to compare two specific items, you can say 'Questo è più economico di quello' (This one is cheaper than that one). Note that 'di' is used before the second item. In informal speech, you may hear 'Questo costa meno' (This costs less) instead of 'è più economico'. Both are correct.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buongiorno, vorrei comprare delle mele. Queste sono più fresche?
Good morning, I would like to buy some apples. Are these fresher?bwohn-JOHR-noh, vohr-REH-ee kohm-PRAH-reh DEHL-leh MEH-leh. KWEH-steh SOH-noh pyoo FREH-skeh?Sì, queste sono più fresche, ma quelle sono più grandi.
Yes, these are fresher, but those are bigger.see, KWEH-steh SOH-noh pyoo FREH-skeh, mah KWEHL-leh SOH-noh pyoo GRAHN-deeCapisco. E qual è più economica?
I see. And which one is cheaper?kah-PEE-skoh. eh kwahl eh pyoo eh-KOH-noh-mee-kah?Quella è meno cara, ma questa è più buona.
That one is less expensive, but this one tastes better.KWEHL-lah eh MEH-noh KAH-rah, mah KWEH-stah eh pyoo BWOH-nahA little context goes a long way
In Italian shops and markets, it is normal to point at products and ask for comparisons. Using 'questo' and 'quello' with a clear gesture is perfectly polite. However, avoid touching the products unless invited. In formal situations, add 'scusi' (excuse me) before asking. In southern Italy, you may hear 'chisto' and 'chillo' for 'this' and 'that' in local dialect, but standard Italian uses 'questo' and 'quello'.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Questo è più economico' when the item is feminine, like a bag (borsa).
Try this instead: Make the demonstrative and adjective agree with the noun. For a feminine noun, say 'Questa è più economica.' For example: 'Questa borsa è più economica' (This bag is cheaper).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'This one is bigger' for a feminine noun like 'pizza'?
Show a sample answer
Questa è più grande.
'Questa' is feminine singular, and 'grande' is the same for masculine and feminine singular. 'Più' means 'more'.
2Translate: 'That one is less expensive' (masculine singular).
Show a sample answer
Quello è meno caro.
'Quello' is masculine singular, 'meno' means 'less', and 'caro' agrees with masculine singular. You could also say 'Quello è più economico'.
3Make the phrase 'Questo è fresco' plural (masculine).
Show a sample answer
Questi sono freschi.
'Questi' is masculine plural, 'sono' is the plural verb, and 'freschi' is the masculine plural adjective. For feminine, it would be 'Queste sono fresche'.
To compare items while shopping, use 'Questo/Questa è più/meno + adjective' and make sure the demonstrative and adjective agree in gender and number. For 'this one is cheaper/bigger/fresher', say 'Questo è più economico', 'Questa è più grande', 'Questo è più fresco'.
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