Italian for the Copy Shop: Printing an A3 Sewing Pattern at Actual Size
Learn to ask an Italian copisteria for an A3 print of a sewing pattern at grandezza reale, with no scaling, and check the 1 cm grid.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
You are at a copisteria before a deadline and you need your PDF sewing pattern printed on A3 at actual size, not scaled to fit. This lesson gives you clear, insistent Italian for that exact situation. You will ask for un foglio A3, say Non scala, per favore, è un cartamodello, and check that the test square is exactly 1 cm. You will also learn the difference between ingrandimento and riduzione, and how to ask staff to verify the quadrettatura before printing all pages.
By the end, you can…
- ask for an A3 print of a sewing pattern at actual size without scaling.
- check that the 1 cm test square is correct before the full print.
- distinguish ingrandimento, riduzione and grandezza reale at the copy shop.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Buongiorno, ho un cartamodello in PDF. Potete stamparlo in A3 a grandezza reale?
Good morning, I have a PDF sewing pattern. Can you print it in A3 at actual size?
bwon-JOR-no, o un kar-ta-mo-DEL-lo in pi-di-EF-fe. po-TE-te stam-PAR-lo in a-tre a gran-DET-tsa re-A-le?
Use this at the counter to state the job clearly. A3 is pronounced 'a tre'. Grandezza reale means 100% scale.
Non scala, per favore, è un cartamodello.
Don't scale it, please, it's a sewing pattern.
non SKA-la, per fa-VO-re, e un kar-ta-mo-DEL-lo
Insistent but polite. Use it right after the first request to prevent automatic 'fit to page' settings.
Controlli che la quadrettatura sia di 1 cm?
Can you check that the grid is 1 cm?
kon-TROL-li ke la kwa-dret-ta-TU-ra SEE-a di un CHEN-tee-me-tro?
Use this to ask staff to measure the test square before printing all pages. Controlli is formal 'you'.
Se la quadrettatura non è di 1 cm, c'è una riduzione o un ingrandimento.
If the grid isn't 1 cm, there's a reduction or an enlargement.
se la kwa-dret-ta-TU-ra non e di un CHEN-tee-me-tro, che u-na ri-du-TSYO-ne o un in-gran-di-MEN-to
Use this to explain the problem. Riduzione means the print is too small; ingrandimento means it is too big.
Prima di stampare tutte le pagine, facciamo una prova su un foglio A3.
Before printing all the pages, let's do a test on one A3 sheet.
PREE-ma di stam-PA-re TUT-te le PA-jee-ne, fat-CHA-mo u-na PRO-va su un FO-jo a-tre
Use this to request a single test sheet. Foglio A3 is one A3 sheet; 'le pagine' are the pattern pages.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To make a polite but firm request, use the imperative form with -i for formal 'you': Controlli, Stampi, Verifichi. Example: Controlli che la quadrettatura sia di 1 cm? You can also use Potete + infinitive for 'can you': Potete stampare in A3? To state the key condition, use Non scala, per favore. To explain the consequence, use Se... c'è...: Se la quadrettatura non è di 1 cm, c'è una riduzione. These patterns keep your request clear without sounding aggressive.
When to use it
Use grandezza reale when you first ask for the print. Use Non scala when the staff member starts setting up the printer, because many default settings automatically scale to fit. Use Controlli che la quadrettatura sia di 1 cm? before the full print, especially if you see a test square on page one. If the test square is wrong, say C'è una riduzione or C'è un ingrandimento and ask them to set 100%. At a copisteria, staff may ask Quante copie? or Su che carta? Answer with Vorrei una copia su A3, per favore.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buongiorno, ho un cartamodello in PDF. Potete stamparlo in A3 a grandezza reale?
Good morning, I have a PDF sewing pattern. Can you print it in A3 at actual size?bwon-JOR-no, o un kar-ta-mo-DEL-lo in pi-di-EF-fe. po-TE-te stam-PAR-lo in a-tre a gran-DET-tsa re-A-le?Certo. Le serve su un foglio A3 normale o su carta più spessa?
Of course. Do you need it on a normal A3 sheet or on thicker paper?CHER-to. le SER-ve su un FO-jo a-tre nor-MA-le o su KAR-ta pyu SPES-sa?Su carta normale va bene. Non scala, per favore, è un cartamodello. Controlli che la quadrettatura sia di 1 cm?
Normal paper is fine. Don't scale it, please, it's a sewing pattern. Can you check that the grid is 1 cm?su KAR-ta nor-MA-le va BE-ne. non SKA-la, per fa-VO-re, e un kar-ta-mo-DEL-lo. kon-TROL-li ke la kwa-dret-ta-TU-ra SEE-a di un CHEN-tee-me-tro?Va bene, facciamo una prova su un foglio. Se la quadrettatura è di 1 cm, stampo tutte le pagine.
All right, let's do a test on one sheet. If the grid is 1 cm, I'll print all the pages.va BE-ne, fat-CHA-mo u-na PRO-va su un FO-jo. se la kwa-dret-ta-TU-ra e di un CHEN-tee-me-tro, STAM-po TUT-te le PA-jee-neA little context goes a long way
At an Italian copisteria, staff are usually direct and helpful, but they may not know sewing pattern conventions. Say grandezza reale and non scala clearly; do not assume they will check the test square unless you ask. Using the formal imperative Controlli is polite and appropriate with strangers. In northern and central Italy, copisteria is the common term; in some areas, you may also hear centro copie. Keep your tone calm but precise, especially before a deadline.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Non scalare' as a direct translation of 'Don't scale'.
Try this instead: In Italian, the natural command is Non scala, per favore, addressed to the printer setting or the action. Example: Non scala, per favore, è un cartamodello. 'Non scalare' can sound like you are telling someone not to climb something, and it is not the standard phrase at a copy shop.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask a copy shop to print your PDF sewing pattern on A3 at actual size?
Show a sample answer
Potete stamparlo in A3 a grandezza reale?
This uses Potete + infinitive for a polite request and grandezza reale for 100% scale. You can also say Vorrei una stampa in A3 a grandezza reale, per favore.
2What do you say to stop the printer from scaling your pattern?
Show a sample answer
Non scala, per favore, è un cartamodello.
This is a clear, insistent instruction. Non scalare is not the usual phrase here; Non scala is the natural copy shop request.
3How do you ask staff to check that the test square is 1 cm?
Show a sample answer
Controlli che la quadrettatura sia di 1 cm?
Controlli is the formal imperative for 'you' and quadrettatura means the grid. You can also ask Può controllare che la quadrettatura sia di 1 cm?
At the copisteria, say grandezza reale, add Non scala, per favore, è un cartamodello, and ask Controlli che la quadrettatura sia di 1 cm? before printing all pages.
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