´óÏó´«Ã½

Some discount, please!

I had just enjoyed a nice snack in a restaurant about four months after I moved to Italy, when instead of asking the waiter for il conto, the bill, I asked for lo sconto. I think I might have upset the waiter by asking for a discount, and I haven't been back yet!

Sent by: Liz

Comments

Derek, Glossop 2009-07-16

In Rome several years ago at a wonderful restauraunt in the businesss area. I asked the waiter in my best Italian for a little black pepper and he was speachless - I had asked for a "small negro".

Flag this comment

Ellen Coxon 2008-07-02

I think foreigners expect howlers from English people!

Flag this comment

Trudi 2005-06-09

We found a nice little restaurant in Rome and had a great meal. I speak a little Italian and had been doing most of the talking while we were there, but my boy-friend decided it was his turn to 'have a go', so when we finished the meal he asked for il canto.

So the waiter began to sing ...

What my boy-friend wanted to ask for was il conto, the bill, of course. What he got was il canto, the song.

Flag this comment

Andrew 2005-06-09

A few years ago, I was dining in an Italian restaurant in Verona. At the end of the meal I asked the waiter for il conte. He started laughing and said: Vuole il duca e il barone anche?, would you also like the duke and the baron? I realised I had asked for the 'Count' rather than the bill, which is il conto.

Flag this comment

´óÏó´«Ã½ iD

´óÏó´«Ã½ navigation

´óÏó´«Ã½ © 2014 The ´óÏó´«Ã½ is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.