A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Do you have this in stock" in Italian
Learn how to ask 'Do you have this in stock?' in Italian with proper pronunciation, cultural tips, and common alternatives.
Ce l'ha questo in magazzino?
cheh LAH KWEHS-toh een mah-gahd-ZEE-noh?formal
Italian TTS · 0:01
Use this phrase when shopping in Italy and you cannot find your size, color, or a specific item on the sales floor. It is perfect for clothing boutiques, shoe stores, or electronics retailers when you want an employee to check the back room. It is most effective when pointing to a display model or showing a picture on your phone.
Alternatives
- Ce l'avete in negozio?Better when addressing the staff as a collective group or in a larger department store
- È rimasto dell'altro?Better at an outdoor market when asking if there is any more fruit or stock hidden under the table
- Avete altre taglie?Better if you are specifically looking for a different clothing or shoe size
Ways to get it wrong
Using 'hai' instead of 'ha'
Avoid using the casual 'tu' form with shop assistants unless you know them personally; stick to the formal 'ha'.
Saying 'in stock' literally
English speakers often try to translate 'stock' directly, but Italians use 'in magazzino' (in the warehouse/backroom) or 'disponibile'.
Dropping the clitic 'ce l'''
Forgetting the 'ce l''' makes the sentence grammatically incomplete; it translates to 'do you have this here?' rather than just 'do you have'.
A small cultural note
In small, independent Italian shops, owners take great pride in their inventory, so asking if they have something in the back will often prompt a genuinely helpful search or an offer to order it for you by the next day.
Frequently asked
how to ask for a different size in italian clothing store
You should say 'Avete una taglia in più o in meno?' or ask for a specific size using 'Avete la taglia...' followed by the Italian size number. Remember that European clothing sizes differ significantly from US and UK sizing charts.
do i say tu or lei to italian shopkeepers
Always default to 'Lei' when speaking to shopkeepers and retail staff to show respect, switching to 'tu' only if they use it with you first or if they are clearly teenagers. Using 'Lei' ensures you receive polite and attentive service in return.
what does in magazzino mean in italian shopping
It literally translates to 'in the warehouse' or stockroom, meaning the item is not currently on the display shelves but is available on the property. Staff will gladly head to the back to retrieve it if you ask politely.
