Italian Phrase
Erano piuttosto costosi.
Meaning
It means “They were rather expensive.” The speaker is commenting on the price of something that was plural (tickets, meals, products, etc.) and is emphasizing that the cost was noticeable but not necessarily prohibitive.
When to use
Use this sentence after you have experienced or examined a group of items and want to give a past‑time evaluation of their price. It works well in casual conversation, travel reviews, or when comparing different options.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Eranopiuttostocostosi
Erano (imperfetto di essere)
Third‑person plural imperfect of "essere"; used for past states or descriptions.
piuttosto (avverbio)
Means "rather" or "fairly"; it modifies the adjective that follows.
costosi (aggettivo)
Masculine plural form of "costoso"; must agree with the implied plural noun (e.g., i prezzi, i biglietti).
🗨In Conversation
Come sono stati i biglietti per il concerto?
How were the tickets for the concert?
Erano piuttosto costosi.
They were rather expensive.
✕Common Mistakes
Sono piuttosto costosi.
Use the present only if the items are still expensive now; for past experiences you need the imperfect "erano".
Erano piuttosto costoso.
The adjective must agree in number with the implied plural noun; use "costosi" for plural.
Erano piuttosto costose.
Use the masculine form "costosi" unless you are referring to a feminine plural noun (e.g., le scarpe).
↔Alternatives
Costavano molto.
They cost a lot.
Erano abbastanza costosi.
They were quite expensive.
Erano piuttosto cari.
They were rather pricey.
Cultural Tip
In Italian, "costoso" can refer to price as well as to something that requires effort or resources. Adding "piuttosto" softens the statement, making it sound less judgmental. When speaking to locals, you can also use "cari" (expensive) for a more informal tone, but keep the adjective agreement with the noun you have in mind.