Italian for the Copy Shop: Asking to Reprint a Single Page
Learn to ask a copisteria to replace one badly printed page, using polite Italian phrases for errors, page numbers and paper type.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
You are at a copisteria before a deadline and one page has a smudge, a streak or a wrong margin. You do not need to reprint the whole document. This lesson teaches you how to point to the problem page, ask for a single replacement and answer the staff member's practical questions about the original file and the paper. The focus is on polite, specific requests that work in real Italian copy shops, without assuming that every shop follows the same procedure.
By the end, you can…
- ask a copy shop worker to reprint one specific page.
- explain that a page came out badly and identify it by number.
- answer questions about the original file and the paper type.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Questa pagina è venuta male, può rifarla?
This page came out badly, can you redo it?
KWEH-sta PAH-jee-na eh veh-NOO-ta MAH-leh, pwoh ree-FAR-la
Use this while holding the bad page and pointing to the problem. 'Venuta male' is a natural way to say a print came out badly.
È la numero 12.
It's number 12.
eh la NOO-meh-ro DOH-dee-cheh
Use this to identify the page by its printed page number. If the document has no printed numbers, say 'È la dodicesima pagina'.
Solo questa pagina, per favore.
Only this page, please.
SOH-lo KWEH-sta PAH-jee-na, per fa-VOH-reh
Use this to make clear you do not want the whole document reprinted. It prevents extra work and cost.
La può ristampare dallo stesso file?
Can you reprint it from the same file?
la pwoh ree-stam-PAH-reh dal-LOH STES-so FEE-leh
Use this if the shop still has your file. 'Ristampare' is common for printing again from a digital file.
Va bene la stessa carta.
The same paper is fine.
va BEH-neh la STES-sa KAR-ta
Use this to confirm the paper type when staff ask. If you need a different paper, say 'Vorrei una carta leggermente più spessa'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 'Questa pagina è venuta male, può rifarla?' combines a description of the problem with a polite request. 'Venuta male' agrees with the feminine noun 'pagina'. You can change the object: 'Questa copia è venuta male, può rifarla?' or 'Questa stampa è venuta male, può rifarla?'. To be more specific, add the reason: 'Questa pagina è venuta male, ci sono delle righe, può rifarla?'. The verb 'rifare' means to do again; 'ristampare' means to print again. Both work, but 'rifare' is broader and very common in conversation.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you are already at the counter and can show the bad page. Start with 'Scusi' to get attention, then point and say 'Questa pagina è venuta male'. If the shop asks for the page number, answer 'È la numero 12' or 'È la dodicesima pagina'. If they ask about the file, say 'Sì, è lo stesso file di prima' or 'No, ho una chiavetta USB'. If they ask about paper, answer 'Va bene la stessa carta' or 'Vorrei una carta un po' più spessa'. Always confirm the quantity: 'Solo una copia, per favore'.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Scusi, questa pagina è venuta male. Ci sono delle righe. Può rifarla?
Excuse me, this page came out badly. There are streaks. Can you redo it?SKOO-zee, KWEH-sta PAH-jee-na eh veh-NOO-ta MAH-leh. chee SOH-no DEL-le REE-gheh. pwoh ree-FAR-laCerto. Quale pagina è?
Of course. Which page is it?CHER-toh. KWAH-leh PAH-jee-na ehÈ la numero 12. Solo questa pagina, per favore. La può ristampare dallo stesso file?
It's number 12. Only this page, please. Can you reprint it from the same file?eh la NOO-meh-ro DOH-dee-cheh. SOH-lo KWEH-sta PAH-jee-na, per fa-VOH-reh. la pwoh ree-stam-PAH-reh dal-LOH STES-so FEE-lehSì, ce l'ho ancora. Va bene la stessa carta?
Yes, I still have it. Is the same paper fine?see, cheh loh an-KOH-ra. va BEH-neh la STES-sa KAR-taA little context goes a long way
In Italian copy shops, staff often ask 'Ha il file?' or 'È lo stesso file di prima?' before reprinting. It is normal to show the bad page and point to the problem. Politeness matters: use 'Scusi' to open and 'per favore' to close. In some shops, a single-page reprint may be treated as a small job and handled quickly; in others, you may need to wait. Avoid assuming a fixed policy; ask 'Quanto tempo ci vuole?' if you are in a hurry.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Questa pagina è sbagliata' when the page is not wrong in content but printed badly.
Try this instead: 'Sbagliata' means wrong or incorrect, often about content. For a printing defect, say 'Questa pagina è venuta male' or 'Questa stampa è venuta male'. Example: 'Questa pagina è venuta male, ci sono delle macchie'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask a copy shop worker to redo one specific page that came out badly?
Show a sample answer
Questa pagina è venuta male, può rifarla?
This directly describes the problem and makes a polite request. You could also say 'Questa pagina è venuta male, può ristamparla?' with the same meaning.
2The worker asks which page. How do you say 'It's number 12'?
Show a sample answer
È la numero 12.
This uses the printed page number. If the page has no number, you can say 'È la dodicesima pagina'.
3The worker asks if the same paper is fine. How do you confirm?
Show a sample answer
Va bene la stessa carta.
This confirms the paper type. If you need thicker paper, say 'Vorrei una carta un po' più spessa'.
At the copy shop, point to the bad page and say 'Questa pagina è venuta male, può rifarla?'. Identify it with 'È la numero...' and confirm 'Solo questa pagina' and 'Va bene la stessa carta'.
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