Italian Phrase
Cosa posso comprare al duty‑free?
Meaning
The speaker is asking what items are allowed to be bought in the duty‑free shop, usually after passing security at an airport or border. It implies curiosity about the range of tax‑free products and any legal limits.
When to use
Use this question when you are at an airport, on a cruise ship, or at any border checkpoint that offers a duty‑free store. It’s handy when you want to know which perfumes, spirits, chocolates, or electronics you can purchase without paying local taxes.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cosapossocomprarealduty-free?
Cosa
Interrogative pronoun meaning “what”. It can appear at the beginning of a question.
posso
First‑person singular present of the modal verb potere (to be able). Used to express ability or permission.
comprare
Infinitive of the verb “to buy”. After a modal verb (posso) the infinitive follows directly.
al
Contraction of the preposition a (to/at) + the definite article il. Means “at the”.
duty‑free
Loanword used as a masculine noun (il duty‑free). Refers to a shop where goods are sold without taxes.
Question word order
In Italian, a yes/no question often inverts subject and verb, but a wh‑question starts with the interrogative word, followed by the verb and then the infinitive.
🗨In Conversation
Cosa posso comprare al duty‑free?
What can I buy at the duty‑free?
Puoi comprare profumi, alcolici, cioccolato e articoli elettronici, ma ricorda i limiti di esenzione per i voli internazionali.
You can buy perfumes, alcohol, chocolate and electronic items, but remember the exemption limits for international flights.
✕Common Mistakes
Cosa può comprare al duty‑free?
“Può” is third‑person singular; you need the first‑person “posso” when speaking about yourself.
Cosa posso comprare al duty free?
The English spelling without the hyphen is less common in Italian; use the hyphenated “duty‑free”.
Cosa comprare posso al duty‑free?
In spoken Italian the question mark is often omitted in writing, but the intonation rises at the end. Make sure the verb precedes the infinitive.
↔Alternatives
Che cosa è permesso acquistare al duty‑free?
What is allowed to be purchased at the duty‑free?
Quali prodotti posso trovare al duty‑free?
Which products can I find at the duty‑free?
Cosa si può comprare al duty‑free?
What can one buy at the duty‑free?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, duty‑free shops are common in major airports such as Fiumicino (Rome) and Malpensa (Milan). The term “duty‑free” is masculine, so you’ll hear “il duty‑free” and the preposition “al”. Keep in mind EU customs rules: you can bring only a limited amount of alcohol, tobacco and perfume back into the country without paying duty. Asking this question shows you’re aware of those limits and helps you avoid surprises at customs.