Italian Phrase
Sono 15 dollari.
Meaning
This sentence means “It’s fifteen dollars.” It is used to state the price of an item or service. The verb ‘sono’ signals that the speaker is describing a quantity rather than asking for it.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to tell someone the cost of something, especially in a shop, restaurant, or when discussing travel expenses. It can also appear in responses to questions like “Quanto costa?” (How much does it cost?).
✦Grammar Breakdown
Sono15dollari
Essere with amounts
When stating a price or quantity, Italian uses the verb 'essere' (to be) in the third‑person singular (è) for singular amounts and third‑person plural (sono) for plural amounts.
Number agreement
Even though the number is plural, the verb 'sono' is used because the subject is the whole amount, treated as a plural entity.
Pronouncing numbers
The numeral 15 is spoken as 'quindici', not as the digit '15'.
🗨In Conversation
Quanto costa questo libro?
How much does this book cost?
Sono 15 dollari.
It’s fifteen dollars.
✕Common Mistakes
È 15 dollari.
Use ‘sono’ for plural amounts; ‘è’ is only for singular amounts (e.g., ‘È un dollaro’).
15 dollari sono.
In Italian the verb precedes the amount, not follows it.
Sono 15 dollari.
While grammatically correct, learners often forget to match the spoken number with the numeral; say the word ‘quindici’ when speaking.
↔Alternatives
Costano 15 dollari.
They cost fifteen dollars.
Il prezzo è 15 dollari.
The price is fifteen dollars.
Sono quindici dollari.
It’s fifteen dollars.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, prices are usually given in euros, but when dealing with foreign currency you’ll still hear the same structure: ‘Sono 15 dollari’ or ‘Sono 20 sterline’. Remember that ‘sono’ is used for any plural amount, while ‘è’ is used for singular amounts (e.g., ‘È un dollaro’). Also, Italians often round to the nearest 5 or 10 cents, so you might hear ‘Sono 15,50 dollari’ in a more precise context.