Italian Phrase
Compriamo e vendiamo valute estere.
Meaning
This sentence means ‘We buy and sell foreign currencies.’ It is a concise statement of a business’s core activity, typically used by banks, exchange bureaus, or online trading platforms. The phrase emphasizes both sides of the transaction – purchasing and selling – and highlights that the currencies involved are not domestic.
When to use
Use this phrase on a company’s website, in promotional flyers, or when speaking with a client who wants to know what services you provide. It works well in formal contexts such as a bank’s customer service desk, a currency exchange office, or a financial‑services call centre.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Compriamoevendiamovaluteestere
Present Indicative (1st pl.)
‘Compriamo’ and ‘vendiamo’ are the first‑person plural present indicative forms of ‘comprare’ (to buy) and ‘vendere’ (to sell).
Conjunction ‘e’
The simple coordinating conjunction ‘e’ means ‘and’, linking two parallel verbs.
Adjective after noun
In Italian, adjectives like ‘estere’ (foreign) often follow the noun they modify, so ‘valute estere’ = ‘foreign currencies’.
Plural nouns
‘Valute’ is the plural of ‘valuta’; the verb forms must agree with this plural subject.
🗨In Conversation
Buongiorno, quali servizi offrite?
Good morning, what services do you offer?
Compriamo e vendiamo valute estere, con tassi competitivi e senza commissioni nascoste.
We buy and sell foreign currencies, with competitive rates and no hidden fees.
✕Common Mistakes
Compriamo e vendiamo le valute estere.
The article ‘le’ is unnecessary because the noun is already generic; it sounds like you’re referring to specific currencies.
Compriamo e vendiamo valuta estere.
‘Valuta’ is singular; the sentence talks about multiple currencies, so use the plural ‘valute’.
Compriamo e vendiamo le valute straniere.
‘Straniere’ is correct, but adding ‘le’ repeats the article; keep it simple.
↔Alternatives
Acquistiamo e rivendiamo valute straniere.
We purchase and resell foreign currencies.
Offriamo servizi di cambio per valute estere.
We offer exchange services for foreign currencies.
Facciamo operazioni di acquisto e vendita di valute estere.
We conduct buying and selling operations of foreign currencies.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, currency exchange is often called ‘cambio’ and is regulated by the Bank of Italy. While banks provide the most secure service, many travelers also use ‘uffici di cambio’ in airports and train stations. When advertising exchange services, it’s customary to mention the ‘tasso di cambio’ (exchange rate) and any fees, as Italian customers are very price‑sensitive.