Italian · Travel & Getting Around
"Money" in Italian: soldi
i soldi
Note: also: il denaro
Money in Italian is usually i soldi (ee SOL-dee), always plural in everyday talk. Denaro exists but sounds more formal or written.
Splitting a bill
Non ho soldi abbastanza in contanti.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce soldi
Say it
ee SOL-dee
/ˈsɔl.di/
SOL-dee, stress on SOL. Final i is clear. Soldo singular is rare for money.
"Money" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| i soldi | money Default everyday word. | Default everyday word. |
| avere soldi | to have money Ho soldi / non ho soldi. | Ho soldi / non ho soldi. |
| i contanti | cash Physical bills and coins. | Physical bills and coins. |
| il denaro | money (formal) News, essays, banking tone. | News, essays, banking tone. |
How to use soldi in real life
- 1Splitting a bill
Non ho soldi abbastanza in contanti.
I don't have enough money in cash.
Soldi as the general word.
- 2Saving up
Metto da parte i soldi per le vacanze.
I'm putting money aside for the holidays.
I soldi with metter da parte.
- 3At the ATM
Mi servono soldi per il taxi.
I need money for the taxi.
Soldi without the article still works.
Mistakes English speakers make with soldi
Incorrect: Il soldo non mi basta.
Correct: I soldi non mi bastano.
Everyday money talk uses plural i soldi.
Incorrect: Ho molti denaro.
Correct: Ho molti soldi.
Prefer soldi in speech; denaro is countable differently and more formal.
Good to know
Italians talk about soldi casually—chi paga? and non ho soldi are normal café lines. Cards are common in cities, but small markets may still prefer contanti.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Deciding how to pay for dinner
ChatPal
Hai i soldi per la cena o paghiamo con la carta?
Do you have the money for dinner or shall we pay by card?
You
Ho pochi soldi in tasca. Meglio la carta.
I have little money in my pocket. Better the card.
ChatPal
Ok. Poi ritiro soldi al bancomat.
Ok. Then I'll withdraw money at the ATM.
You
Perfetto. Così domani abbiamo soldi per il mercato.
Perfect. Then tomorrow we'll have money for the market.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Money" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Money" in Italian
Is soldi singular or plural?
Treat it as plural: i soldi, molti soldi.
What about denaro?
More formal. In conversation, say soldi.
How do I say I have no money?
Non ho soldi.
Is cash the same word?
Cash is i contanti. Soldi is money in general.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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