Preferisco pagare in contanti al mercato.

I prefer to pay in cash at the market.

Breakdown of Preferisco pagare in contanti al mercato.

• io: I
• in: in
• il mercato: the market
• preferire: to prefer
• pagare: to pay
• al: at
• il contante: the cash

Questions & Answers about Preferisco pagare in contanti al mercato.

Why is it "Preferisco pagare" and not "Preferisco pago"?

In Italian, after verbs that express preference, desire, ability, etc., you use the infinitive for the second verb: preferire + infinitive. So: Preferisco pagare, Voglio pagare, Posso pagare. Using a conjugated verb after preferisco is incorrect here.

Can I say Preferisco di pagare?

Standard Italian uses preferire + infinitive without a preposition: Preferisco pagare. You may hear preferire di + infinitive, but it’s less common and often discouraged. Stick to the version without di.

Why is it in contanti and not con i contanti?

Because pagare in contanti is the fixed, idiomatic way to say “to pay in cash.” With other methods you use con: pagare con la carta, col bancomat. But for cash, it’s almost always in contanti.

What does al mean in al mercato?

Al is the contraction of a + il and means “at the” or “to the.” Examples:

• a + il = al
• a + la = alla
• a + lo = allo
• a + l’ = all’

Why al mercato and not nel mercato?

• al mercato = “at the market” (general location)
• nel mercato = “in/inside the market” (inside a specific market building) or “in the market” in an economic sense
• dal mercato = “from the market”
• sul mercato = “on the market” (available for sale)

Do I need to say io (I), as in Io preferisco?

No. Italian drops subject pronouns because the verb ending tells you the subject. Preferisco already means “I prefer.” You can add io for emphasis or contrast: Io preferisco pagare in contanti.

How can I make this more polite at a shop or stall?

Use the conditional or a softening phrase:

• Preferirei pagare in contanti.
• Vorrei pagare in contanti.
• Posso pagare in contanti?
• Va bene se pago in contanti?

Is contanti plural? Does anything need to agree with it?

Yes, contanti is a plural noun meaning “cash.” In the set phrase in contanti, you don’t make anything agree; just use the expression as is.

Do I need per after pagare, like “pay for”?

No. Pagare takes a direct object: pagare qualcosa. Don’t say pagare per qualcosa in this sense.

• Correct: Pago il pranzo.
• Incorrect for this meaning: ✗ Pago per il pranzo.

Can I change the word order? Where can al mercato and in contanti go?

Yes, within reason:

• Preferisco pagare in contanti al mercato.
• Preferisco pagare al mercato in contanti.
• Al mercato preferisco pagare in contanti. Avoid splitting preferisco and pagare or making the order overly clunky.

Can I use supermercato instead of mercato? Any difference?

Yes: al supermercato means “at the supermarket” (a store). Al mercato typically refers to an open-air or farmers’ market. The payment part doesn’t change: Preferisco pagare in contanti al supermercato.

How do you conjugate preferire in the present?

It’s an -isc- verb:

• io preferisco
• tu preferisci
• lui/lei preferisce
• noi preferiamo (no -isc-)
• voi preferite (no -isc-)
• loro preferiscono

Any pronunciation tips for these words?

• Preferisco: pre-fe-RI-sco (stress on “ri”). The sc before o sounds like “sk.”
• pagare: pa-GA-re (hard “g” as in “go”).
• contanti: con-TAN-ti (both “t”s are crisp).
• mercato: mer-CA-to (hard “c” = “k”).
• al: like “ahl.”

How do I say “I prefer you to pay in cash”?

Use a clause with the subjunctive: Preferisco che tu paghi in contanti. (formal singular: Preferisco che Lei paghi in contanti.) When the subject changes, Italian uses che + congiuntivo.

What’s the difference between preferire and piacere here?

• Preferire expresses a choice between options: Preferisco pagare in contanti (piuttosto che con la carta).
• Piacere expresses liking: Mi piace pagare in contanti. You can like something without necessarily preferring it over alternatives.

Is in always used for payment methods?

No. Common patterns:

• in contanti (cash)
• con la carta / col bancomat / con Apple Pay / con il telefono (cards, contactless) So: in for cash, con/col for most tools or devices.

Can I say in contante (singular)?

Avoid it. The standard expression is in contanti. You might see denaro contante (“ready money”), but in the paying expression, use the plural.

Do I need to specify what I’m paying for?

No. It’s fine to leave it implied: Preferisco pagare in contanti al mercato. If you want to specify, add a direct object: Preferisco pagare la frutta in contanti al mercato.