What's the best way to say "I'd like to return this" in Italian
The best way to say “I’d like to return this” in Italian is:
This phrase is polite and formal. It literally means “I would like to return this.” You can also add “per favore” (per favore) to say “please,” making it:
Vorrei restituire questo, per favore.
If you want to specify the item, replace “questo” with the noun, for example, for a shirt, say Vorrei restituire questa maglietta.
Useful variations
In real shops, you may want slightly different wording depending on what you are returning and why. The core verb is restituire, which is a good choice when you want to say you are returning an item to the store.
Here are a few natural alternatives:
- Vorrei fare un reso. — “I’d like to make a return.”
- Vorrei restituire questo articolo. — “I’d like to return this item.”
- Posso restituire questo? — “Can I return this?”
- Vorrei cambiare questo. — “I’d like to exchange this.”
Vorrei fare un reso is especially useful in stores and online shopping contexts because reso is the common noun for “return.” If you are not sure whether you want a refund or an exchange, this phrase is broad and very practical.
Choosing the right phrase
If you want to sound polite and clear, these are the best options:
- Vorrei restituire questo. — good for a straightforward return
- Vorrei fare un reso. — best for shopping and customer service
- Vorrei cambiare questo. — use this if you want another size, color, or item
If you are speaking to a cashier or store employee, vorrei is often the safest choice because it sounds courteous without being too stiff. In Italian, this is usually more natural than a direct command.
Grammar note: questo, questa, and these forms
Italian demonstratives change depending on gender and number. That means you need to match questo with the noun you are referring to.
- questo = this, masculine singular
- questa = this, feminine singular
- questi = these, masculine plural
- queste = these, feminine plural
Examples:
- Vorrei restituire questo libro. — “I’d like to return this book.”
- Vorrei restituire questa camicia. — “I’d like to return this shirt.”
- Vorrei restituire questi pantaloni. — “I’d like to return these pants.”
- Vorrei restituire queste scarpe. — “I’d like to return these shoes.”
This is a helpful pattern to remember if you are shopping in Italian or asking about returns at a store.
What to say if you want a refund or exchange
Sometimes “return” in English can mean two different things: getting your money back or exchanging the item. Italian often makes this distinction more clearly.
- Vorrei il rimborso. — “I’d like a refund.”
- Vorrei cambiarlo. — “I’d like to exchange it.”
- Vorrei cambiarlo con una taglia più grande. — “I’d like to exchange it for a larger size.”
If you are returning something because it is damaged or defective, you can say:
- Vorrei restituire questo perché è difettoso. — “I’d like to return this because it’s defective.”
- Vorrei fare un reso perché non funziona. — “I’d like to make a return because it doesn’t work.”
Common mistakes to avoid
A few small errors can make your sentence sound less natural:
- Don’t use voglio unless you want a more direct tone.
- Vorrei is softer and more polite than voglio.
- Don’t forget gender agreement with questo/questa.
- If you are asking for a refund, use rimborso, not reso.
- If you want to exchange an item, cambiare is usually better than restituire.
For example:
- Vorrei restituire questo. = return this
- Vorrei il rimborso. = I want a refund
- Vorrei cambiarlo. = I want to exchange it
A short shopping dialogue
Here is a simple conversation you might hear in a store:
Cliente: Buongiorno, vorrei restituire questo, per favore.
Commesso: Certo, ha lo scontrino?
Cliente: Sì, eccolo.
Commesso: Va bene, grazie.
This kind of exchange is useful to memorize because you may also be asked:
- Ha lo scontrino? — “Do you have the receipt?”
- Lo vuole cambiare o restituire? — “Do you want to exchange it or return it?”
- Ha pagato con carta? — “Did you pay by card?”
Quick takeaway
If you only remember one phrase, use:
It is polite, natural, and works well in most store situations. If you want to be even more specific, you can say whether you want a reso, a rimborso, or a cambio depending on the situation.