Italian for Using an ATM: Withdraw Cash and Ask About Fees
Learn elementary Italian to use a Bancomat, ask whether it accepts foreign cards, understand common screen prompts, and ask about withdrawal fees.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
Using an ATM in Italy is manageable if you know a handful of words. In Italian, an ATM is usually called un bancomat (from the bank consortium of the same name), and the machine itself will show prompts such as Inserire la carta, Digitare il PIN, and Prelevare. This lesson gives you the exact phrases to ask whether a machine accepts foreign cards, to check fees before withdrawing, and to complete a cash withdrawal. You will also learn to recognise the difference between prelevare (to withdraw cash) and pagare (to pay), because mixing them up can confuse a cashier or a bystander. All phrases are standard contemporary Italian; where usage differs regionally, that is noted.
By the end, you can…
- ask whether an ATM accepts foreign cards.
- ask about withdrawal fees before taking out cash.
- recognise and respond to common Italian ATM screen prompts.
- complete a cash withdrawal and ask for a receipt.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Questo bancomat accetta carte straniere?
Does this ATM accept foreign cards?
KWEH-stoh bahn-KOH-maht aht-CHEHT-tah KAR-teh strah-NYEH-reh
Standard question. Carte straniere means foreign cards in general; you can also say carta di credito straniera for a foreign credit card.
Qual è la commissione per il prelievo?
What is the fee for the withdrawal?
kwahl eh lah koh-mees-SYOH-neh pehr eel preh-LYEH-voh
Commissione is the standard word for a fee or commission. Prelievo means a cash withdrawal.
Vorrei prelevare cento euro.
I would like to withdraw one hundred euros.
vor-RAY preh-leh-VAH-reh CHEN-toh EH-oo-roh
Vorrei is the polite conditional of volere, useful at any counter or machine. Amounts are spoken as normal numbers.
Posso avere la ricevuta?
Can I have the receipt?
POS-soh ah-VEH-reh lah ree-cheh-VOO-tah
Ricevuta is a receipt from a machine or a payment. Scontrino is the receipt you get in a shop or bar.
La carta non è stata accettata.
The card was not accepted.
lah KAR-tah non eh STAH-tah aht-cheht-TAH-tah
Useful if the machine rejects your card. You may also see the shorter Carta non valida, meaning invalid card.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask whether something is accepted, use accettare: Accettate carte straniere? (Do you accept foreign cards?) or Questo bancomat accetta carte straniere? For fees, the pattern è la commissione per... works well: Qual è la commissione per il prelievo? For the amount, use prelevare plus the number: Vorrei prelevare duecento euro. Note that euro is invariable in Italian: due euro, cento euro, never euri.
When to use it
Use these phrases before inserting your card if you are unsure about fees, and again if the screen offers a conversion choice. Italian ATMs often ask: Vuoi procedere senza conversione? (Do you want to proceed without conversion?) or show the amount in your home currency. Choosing the euro amount usually avoids a poor exchange rate, but the machine's own commission may still apply. If you need help, say: Mi può aiutare? (Can you help me?) to a staff member inside the bank.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buongiorno, questo bancomat accetta carte straniere?
Good morning, does this ATM accept foreign cards?bwon-JOR-noh KWEH-stoh bahn-KOH-maht aht-CHEHT-tah KAR-teh strah-NYEH-rehSì, ma c'è una commissione di due euro per il prelievo.
Yes, but there is a two-euro fee for the withdrawal.see mah cheh OO-nah koh-mees-SYOH-neh dee DOO-eh EH-oo-roh pehr eel preh-LYEH-vohVa bene. Vorrei prelevare cento euro, per favore.
That's fine. I would like to withdraw one hundred euros, please.vah BEH-neh vor-RAY preh-leh-VAH-reh CHEN-toh EH-oo-roh pehr fah-VOH-rehInserisca la carta e digiti il PIN. Poi scelga l'importo.
Insert the card and enter the PIN. Then choose the amount.een-seh-REES-kah lah KAR-tah eh DEE-jee-tee eel peen poy SHEHL-gah leem-POR-tohA little context goes a long way
Bancomat is the everyday word for an ATM and also the name of a major Italian cash-machine network. In speech, many Italians say il bancomat even for machines run by other banks. Signs may also say ATM or sportello automatico. Politeness matters: use buongiorno in the morning and buonasera later; with strangers, prefer the polite Lei forms, as in Inserisca la carta and Mi può aiutare?
One thing to watch for
Using pagare when you mean to withdraw cash, as in Vorrei pagare cento euro at an ATM.
Try this instead: Pagare means to pay, not to withdraw. At an ATM, say Vorrei prelevare cento euro. Use pagare for paying a person or a bill: Posso pagare con la carta? (Can I pay by card?)
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask whether this ATM accepts foreign cards?
Show a sample answer
Questo bancomat accetta carte straniere?
This uses accetta, third-person singular of accettare, with carte straniere. You could also ask Accettate carte straniere? if speaking to a person.
2How do you ask the fee for a withdrawal?
Show a sample answer
Qual è la commissione per il prelievo?
Commissione means fee or commission, and prelievo means cash withdrawal. Qual è is the standard way to ask what something is.
3You want to withdraw fifty euros. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
Vorrei prelevare cinquanta euro.
Vorrei is the polite form of I would like, and prelevare means to withdraw cash. Euro stays the same in the plural.
Before withdrawing, ask Questo bancomat accetta carte straniere? and Qual è la commissione per il prelievo? Then say Vorrei prelevare plus the amount, and remember that prelevare means withdraw cash, not pay.
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