Learn Hardcore Italian: Abbiamo ricevuto campioni in omaggio durante la fiera del libro. - We received free samples during the book fair.

The phrase in omaggio literally means “as a tribute” or “as a gift,” but in everyday Italian it’s used to say “for free” or “complimentary.” You’ll see it a lot in marketing to indicate that something is given at no cost.

Why not just use gratis instead of in omaggio?

Both gratis and in omaggio mean “free,” but in omaggio sounds more promotional and is very common in advertising. gratis is more direct and colloquial. For instance, campioni gratis is fine in casual speech, but campioni in omaggio feels more like a formal offer.

Why is the verb in the passato prossimo (abbiamo ricevuto)? Could we use another tense?

Italian speakers use the passato prossimo (abbiamo ricevuto) to talk about completed actions in the recent past or events that have relevance now. It’s formed with the present of avere (abbiamo) + past participle (ricevuto). The passato remoto (ricevemmo) exists but is mostly literary or regional; it would sound too formal here.

What does campioni translate to? Doesn’t it also mean “champions”?

Yes, campioni can mean “champions,” but in this context it’s short for campioni di prodotto, i.e. “product samples.” Context tells you they’re freebies, not athletes.

Why is campioni plural? When would you use the singular?

Because they presumably received multiple samples. If you only got one, you’d say un campione in omaggio (a single complimentary sample).

What’s the role of durante? Could we use a or in instead?

durante means “during” and indicates that the action took place throughout the event. You could say alla fiera del libro (“at the book fair”) to pinpoint location/time in a more general way, but durante is the exact equivalent of English “during.”

Why do we say fiera del libro (singular)? Could it be fiera dei libri?

fiera del libro is the standard expression for “book fair.” Even though many books are present, Italian often uses the singular to denote the overall theme or category. fiera dei libri isn’t wrong, but you’ll hear it far less frequently.

Can we start the sentence with Durante la fiera del libro instead?

Absolutely. Durante la fiera del libro abbiamo ricevuto campioni in omaggio. The meaning stays the same; you’re just emphasizing the timing by placing it at the front.

Is it correct to drop in and say campioni omaggio?

In everyday full sentences, you keep the preposition and say in omaggio. In headlines or short ad copy you might see campioni omaggio, but in regular speech and writing it sounds more natural with in.

Could we replace abbiamo ricevuto with abbiamo preso?

Yes, you could say abbiamo preso campioni in omaggio, meaning “we took complimentary samples.” The nuance changes slightly: ricevere (“to receive”) stresses that they were given to you, while prendere (“to take”) highlights the action of picking them up yourself.