Knowing how to say “how much” in Italian is an indispensable part of your journey to speak the language fluently. You’ll need it to ask about the cost of train tickets or the price of Italian coffee, to figure out quantities, duration, distances, and even to talk about the intensity of an emotion.
Since it’s so versatile, there are different Italian words to translate “how much,” depending on the context. Learn how to say “how much” in Italian in various scenarios, how to choose between “how much” and “how many,” and pick up a few colloquial expressions that instantly make your conversations sound more natural.
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Different ways to say ‘how much’ in Italian: quanto, quanta, quanti, quante
The direct translation of “how much” in Italian is quanto. This short word can act as three different Italian parts of speech: It can be an adjective, a pronoun, or even one of the Italian adverbs.
Quanto follows the Italian grammar rules for gender and number in every situation, except when used as an adverb. That means it changes its ending depending on whether the noun it refers to is masculine or feminine, singular or plural. With the same root quant- you can create the Italian words for “how much” and “how many.”
| Italian | English Meaning | Gender and Number |
| quanto | how much | masculine, singular |
| quanta | how much | feminine, singular |
| quanti | how many | masculine, plural |
| quante | how many | feminine, plural |
Using ‘How much?’ to ask about the price
Asking about the price is one of the most common situations you’ll face when traveling in Italy, and it’s an essential part of your toolkit for ordering food in Italian.
You can do it by pairing quanto with the verb costare (to cost) or essere (to be) in Italian. In both cases, quanto is used as an adverb, always in the masculine singular form, regardless of whether the verb is plural or singular.
How to say ‘How much does it cost?’ in Italian
The most common way to ask about the price of something is by using the verb costare (to cost). The following sentences are both perfect ways to say “How much does it cost?” in Italian.
- Quanto costa? = How much does this cost? (singular)
- Quanto costano? = How much do they cost? (plural)
You will hear these expressions by themselves or in more complex sentences.
- Quanto costa questa macchina fotografica? = How much does this camera cost? (f/s)
- Quanto costa l’ingresso al museo? = How much does it cost to get into the museum? (m/s)
- Quanto costano questi occhiali da sole? = How much do these sunglasses cost? (m/pl)
Asking ‘How much is it?’ in Italian
Another common way to ask about an amount is pairing quanto with the verb essere (to be), like saying “How much is…” in Italian.
- Quant’è?* = How much is it?
- Quanto sono cinque dollari in euro? = How much is five dollars in euros?
*If quanto comes before a vowel, the “o” is replaced with an apostrophe.
Other ways to say ‘How much is it?’ in Italian
Italians have a few shorter, more casual ways to ask the same question, influenced mainly by Italian dialects and Italian slang.
| Italian Verb | Italian Example | English Meaning |
| dovere (to owe) |
Quanto ti/Le devo? | How much do I owe you? (informal/formal) |
| fare (to do/make) |
Quanto fa?/Quanto fanno? | How much is it? or What’s the total? |
| stare (to stay/cost) |
A quanto sta? | How much does it cost? |
| venire (to come/result in) |
Quanto viene il conto?/Quanto viene a testa? | How much is the bill?/How much is it per person? |
Using ‘How much?’ to ask about quantity
When you ask about a quantity or the number of people and things in Italian, quanto (how much/how many) works as an Italian adjective, so it must match the gender and number of the noun it refers to.
- Use quanto with masculine singular nouns:
- Quanto latte vuoi? = How much milk do you want?
- Always say quanta before feminine singular nouns:
- Quanta pasta vuoi? = How much pasta would you like?
- Say quanti when referring to a masculine plural noun:
- Quanti bambini ci sono? = How many children are there?
- Use quante before feminine plural nouns:
- Quante lingue parli? = How many languages do you speak?
Be aware that Italian expressions may not translate literally into English, as happens in the following examples:
- Quanta febbre ha il bambino? = What is the baby’s temperature? (literally “how much fever”)
- Tu quanti anni hai? = How old are you? (literally “how many years”)
Using ‘How much?’ with Italian verbs
You can use “how much” in Italian as an adverb followed by Italian verbs or other adverbs, also referring to the intensity and frequency of the action. Before verbs, always use quanto in the masculine singular form.
- Quanto ti alleni al giorno? = How much do you train per day
- Quanto dormi di solito? = How much do you usually sleep?
- Quanto mi vuoi bene? = How much do you love me?
How to use ‘How much’ as an exclamation
Quanto is definitely one of the most common question words in Italian, along with quando (when), chi (who), and perché (“why” in Italian). But it can also work as an exclamation to express surprise or admiration.
- Quanto sei cresciuto! = How much you’ve grown!
- Quanto rumore! = So much noise!
- Quanto sei bello! = How beautiful you are!
- Quanta gente! = It’s so crowded!
- Quanta confusione su questo treno! = What a mess on this train! (literally, “how much confusion”)
- Quanti problemi ti fai! = You worry too much! (literally, “how many problems”)
- Quante nuvole! = So many clouds!
- Quante casette colorate ho visto in Liguria! = How many colorful houses I saw in Liguria!
Learn as much Italian as you want with Rosetta Stone
So, quanta voglia hai di imparare di più sull’italiano? (How much do you want to learn more about Italian?) There are plenty of language guides to help you connect with the Italian language, from practical tips on how to learn Italian to understanding the meaning behind Italian gestures. And if you’re serious about speaking fluently, discover how Rosetta Stone works. Its method will take you further with bite-sized lessons that fit seamlessly into your daily routine.
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