Italian Phrase
Sì, c'è un piccolo costo di consegna.
Meaning
This phrase is used to confirm that a delivery service will incur a small fee. It's a direct and polite way to inform someone about an additional charge for bringing an item or service to them, often used in customer service or when discussing an order.
When to use
You would typically use this phrase when someone asks if there's a delivery fee, or when you need to inform a customer about a small charge for delivering an item. It's very common in contexts like online shopping, food delivery, or any service that involves physical delivery.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Sìc'èun piccolocostodi consegna
Sì
'Sì' means 'yes' and is a common affirmative response in Italian. It's often followed by a comma when introducing a new clause or providing additional information.
C'è
'C'è' is the contracted form of 'ci è' and means 'there is'. It's used to indicate the existence or presence of something, similar to 'there is' in English.
Un piccolo
'Un' is the masculine indefinite article, meaning 'a' or 'an'. 'Piccolo' means 'small' and is an adjective that agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies ('costo' is masculine singular).
Costo di consegna
'Costo' means 'cost'. 'Di consegna' means 'of delivery', forming a compound noun phrase that specifies the type of cost. 'Di' is a common preposition meaning 'of' or 'from'.
🗨In Conversation
La consegna è gratuita?
Is delivery free?
Sì, c'è un piccolo costo di consegna.
Yes, there's a small delivery cost.
✕Common Mistakes
Sì, è un piccolo costo di consegna.
Use 'c'è' (there is) to indicate existence, not 'è' (it is) which describes a quality or identity.
Sì, ha un piccolo costo di consegna.
While 'ha' means 'has', it's not used impersonally to express 'there is' in Italian. 'C'è' is the correct form for existence.
Sì, un piccolo costo di consegna c'è.
While grammatically possible, placing 'c'è' at the end sounds less natural and more emphatic than the standard 'c'è un...'. Keep 'c'è' at the beginning of the clause.
↔Alternatives
Sì, la consegna ha un costo minimo.
Yes, delivery has a minimum cost.
C'è una piccola spesa di spedizione.
There's a small shipping fee.
Sì, è prevista una piccola tariffa per la consegna.
Yes, a small delivery fee is foreseen.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, it's quite common for many services, especially food delivery or online shopping, to have a delivery fee, particularly for smaller orders or outside specific zones. This phrase is a standard, polite way to communicate this. Italians appreciate clear communication regarding costs, so being upfront is valued.