How to say "Too Much!"

I only had one occasion to use "troppo caro" on our whole trip. We were at the produce market (Mercato Centrale) in Florence, and I was admiring a nice display of herbs and spices, with packages of gourmet beans and different types of rice toward the back. I asked to see a package of cannellini beans before asking the price. The package was 500g and when she said it was 8 euro!! I was shocked (they are about $3 a pound here). So I handed it back with a "mi dispiace" for causing her to fetch the package for me, along with the "è troppo caro". She shrugged a nice Italian shrug, and put them back.

Fredrica, as I recall, the correct phrase for that is "Troppo Caro"!

"Che è troppo costoso" (for a singular item) or "troppo caro". I would precede that with "I'm sorry" (mi dispiace) so it doesn't sound rude.

Lola, thanks for the reminder. I sometimes forget to include the "polite" parts of a reply.

Ah, there is always "mi fai un po' di sconto?" That was my favorite travel phrase...can you give me a little discount :) It worked for me bargaining at a market in Benevento. I also found that if I paused too long to think about the purchase and consulted with my husband, the price would fall.

I like it! Asking for "a little discount" is much friendlier than just saying "it's too expensive." But I would only suggest trying this at street vendors, flea markets and the like, not actual stores.

"Mi fai" is the informal form, so not appropriate in this context, fwiw. More polite (and simpler to remember) would be to ask "Uno sconto?" with a smile, and you'll be understood perfectly. Have a wonderful time!

I completely agree with Michael ~ you can't be too polite :) And they will know you are a tourist a mile away :)

My friend who speaks Italian says it is better to say Molto Caro ~Troppo means toooooo much and can be taken as offensive

Yes, Lola, that phrase about a little discount would be in the context of street vendors and bancarelli (spelling?), not department stores. Michael, at markets I was at in Southern Italy, everyone used the "tu" informal tone with street vendors. It is like you are all buddies, all familar with each other. Maybe it was because I was in a small village and we were all "paesani." When I was in Italy two weeks ago, my native friends told me that bargaining is expected at the markets. It is like part of the game, and vendors are disappointed if there is no back and forth, at least in Southern Italy.

For what it's worth, if I think something is too much, I just say dismissively, "Eh, troppo...". If you're too polite, they will know you're a tourist and then it's on...

I hear what you're saying and politely disagree that there's such a thing as being too polite. And IMHO, in this context there's no way that the vendor won't already know that this person is a tourist. :-)

....first phrase I learned when I moved to Italy....

I'm sorry to burst some bubbles but there IS such a thing as being "too polite" here. Spend enough time here and you'll soon learn there's a fine line between being rude and being a pushover.

Okay[INVALID]one more language question.....how do you pronounce the word "vai"[INVALID]-is it va (long A), vi (long i) or? For use in phrase Vai via (I've got the via part). Thanks Italian scholars!