Italian Phrase
Può essere caro.
Meaning
Literally ‘It can be expensive.’ The sentence is used to indicate that something might have a high price, without stating it as a certainty.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to warn someone about a possible high cost, discuss price uncertainty, or answer a question about how much something might cost.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Puòesserecaro
Può (potere)
Third‑person singular present of the modal verb *potere*, used to express possibility or ability.
essere (infinitive)
The infinitive form of the verb *to be*, often paired with modal verbs to describe a state.
caro
An adjective meaning ‘expensive’ (or ‘dear’ in a sentimental sense); agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
🗨In Conversation
Quanto costa il biglietto per il concerto?
How much does the concert ticket cost?
Può essere caro.
It can be expensive.
✕Common Mistakes
Po essere caro.
The accent on *può* is essential; without it the word becomes *pò*, which is not a verb form.
Io può essere caro.
Do not use *può* with first‑person subjects (e.g., *Io può essere caro*). The correct form is *Posso essere caro* if you mean ‘I can be expensive.’
Può essere caro (referring to a feminine item).
When referring to a feminine noun, change *caro* to *cara* (e.g., *Può essere cara*).
↔Alternatives
Potrebbe costare molto.
It could cost a lot.
È possibile che sia costoso.
It’s possible that it’s costly.
Potrebbe risultare costoso.
It might turn out to be expensive.
Cultural Tip
In Italian, using *può* softens the statement, making it sound more polite and less confrontational than saying *è caro* outright. Remember that *caro* also means ‘dear’ in a sentimental sense, so context is key to avoid confusion.