SpeeekDownload on the App Store
Back to Making Reservations

Italian Phrase

Fanno sconti?

/ˈfan.no ˈskon.ti/
Meaning"Do they give discounts?"
💡

Meaning

A short, direct way to ask whether a shop, service or seller is offering any price reductions. It literally translates to ‘Do they give discounts?’ and is often used in a polite, inquisitive tone.

🎯

When to use

Use this phrase when you are in a store, market stall, online shop, or any place where you suspect a price reduction might be available – especially during sales periods, clearance events, or when you are negotiating a purchase.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Fannosconti?

1

Fanno (fare)

Third‑person plural present indicative of the verb *fare* (to do/make). Here it means ‘they give/do’.

2

sconti (noun)

Plural noun meaning ‘discounts’. It can also be the third‑person singular of the verb *scontare* (to discount), but in this phrase it functions as a noun.

3

Question formation

Italian yes/no questions can be formed simply by raising intonation; no inversion or auxiliary is needed.

🗨In Conversation

A

Fanno sconti?

Do they give discounts?

Sì, il 10 % su tutti i prodotti fino a domenica.

Yes, 10 % off all items until Sunday.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Fanno sconto?

    ‘Sconto’ is singular; the question asks about discounts in general, so the plural *sconti* is required.

  • Fanno dei sconti?

    While grammatically correct, the article *dei* adds a nuance of ‘some discounts’, which can sound less natural when you simply want to know if any discount exists.

  • Fanno scontare?

    Mixes the verb *scontare* with *fare* incorrectly; the correct construction is *fanno sconti* (they give discounts).

↔Alternatives

  • Ci sono sconti?

    Are there any discounts?

  • Offrite sconti?

    Do you offer discounts?

  • È possibile avere uno sconto?

    Is it possible to get a discount?

it

Cultural Tip

In Italy discounts are most common during the ‘saldi’ (sales) periods in January and July, but many small shops also give occasional reductions without advertising them. It’s perfectly polite to start with *Scusi* (Excuse me) before asking *Fanno sconti?* – e.g., *Scusi, fanno sconti oggi?* – especially in more formal settings. Remember that “sconto” can also be a verb (*scontare*), so avoid mixing the noun and verb forms in the same sentence.