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What's the best way to say "I'd like to return this" in Italian visualisation

What's the best way to say "I'd like to return this" in Italian

Must-Know Italian Phrases for Shopping in Italy: What's the best way to say "I'd like to return this" in Italian
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The best way to say “I’d like to return this” in Italian

The most natural polite phrase is Vorrei restituire questo. It means “I would like to return this,” and it works well in shops, hotels, and other service situations.

Vorrei restituire questo, per favore. is also correct and a little softer because it adds “please.” In spoken Italian, this is a safe, courteous way to start a return conversation.

If the item is specific, replace questo with the noun. For example, for a shirt, say Vorrei restituire questa maglietta. Because Italian agrees in gender and number, questa is used with feminine singular nouns like maglietta.

How the phrase works

Vorrei is the conditional form of volere, and in everyday Italian it is one of the standard ways to make a request sound polite. It is commonly used in shops because it is direct without sounding abrupt.

Restituire means “to return” in the sense of giving an item back. In a store, it usually means returning a purchased item for a refund, exchange, or store credit, depending on the shop’s policy.

Questo means “this” and points to the object in hand. If the object is not visible or if the item has a name, it is often more natural to mention the item itself rather than using a pronoun.

Common ways to say it

  • Vorrei restituire questo. — I’d like to return this.
  • Vorrei restituire questo, per favore. — I’d like to return this, please.
  • Vorrei restituire questa maglietta. — I’d like to return this shirt.
  • Vorrei restituire questi pantaloni. — I’d like to return these trousers.
  • Vorrei fare un reso. — I’d like to make a return.

That last option is especially useful in retail settings. Un reso is the noun form for “a return,” and fare un reso is very common in stores. If the item is being taken back because it is faulty, Vorrei fare un reso can sound more natural than repeating the full phrase.

A more conversational shop version

In real conversation, Italians often simplify the request if the context is obvious:

  • Vorrei fare un reso.
  • Vorrei restituire questo articolo.
  • Posso restituirlo? — Can I return it?

Restituirlo means “return it,” with lo referring back to a masculine singular object. For feminine singular items, the equivalent is restituirla.

If the item is plural, the pronoun changes:

  • Posso restituirli? — Can I return them? for masculine plural items
  • Posso restituirle? — Can I return them? for feminine plural items

What to say if you need the reason

Stores sometimes ask why an item is being returned. Useful replies include:

  • È difettoso. — It’s defective.
  • È troppo piccolo. — It’s too small.
  • È troppo grande. — It’s too big.
  • Non mi sta bene. — It doesn’t fit me well.
  • Ho cambiato idea. — I changed my mind.

If the item is unopened or unused, Non l’ho usato means “I haven’t used it.” That can be helpful when a shop asks whether the item is still in original condition.

Pronunciation tips

Vorrei is pronounced roughly like voh-RREH-ee, with a rolled or tapped r if possible. Restituire is pronounced res-tee-too-EE-reh. The stress falls on the -ui- syllable.

A clear, slow delivery matters more than speed. In practical conversation, short polite phrases are easier to understand than heavily literal translations.

What not to say

Io voglio restituire questo is grammatically understandable, but it sounds much more forceful because voglio means “I want.” In a shop, Vorrei is usually better.

Ritornare is not the standard verb for returning a purchased item in Italian. For store returns, restituire and fare un reso are the reliable choices.

Quick formula

A simple pattern works in most situations:

Vorrei + restituire/fare un reso + article/item name

Examples:

  • Vorrei restituire questo.
  • Vorrei fare un reso di questa camicia.
  • Vorrei restituire queste scarpe.

The most practical version in everyday Italian is usually the shortest one: Vorrei restituire questo, per favore.

References