Learn Hardcore Italian: Hai spiccioli? Il bar non accetta la carta. - Do you have change? The bar doesn’t take cards.

Italian usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending tells you who the subject is. Hai is the 2nd person singular of avere (to have), so it already means “you have.” You’d add tu only for emphasis or contrast: Tu hai spiccioli?

Is Hai spiccioli? more natural than Hai dei/degli spiccioli? Which is correct?

All are correct. In everyday speech, Italians often omit the partitive article and simply say Hai spiccioli? If you include it, use degli spiccioli (not dei) because spiccioli starts with s + consonant. Using degli sounds a touch more careful/polite.

What’s the difference between spiccioli, monete, contanti, resto, and spicci?

spiccioli: small change; coins in general, especially low-value ones.
monete: coins (the physical objects); more neutral/technical than spiccioli.
contanti: cash (notes and coins). As an adverbial phrase: in contanti = in cash.
resto: the change you get back after paying.
spicci: colloquial shortening of spiccioli (very informal).

Is spiccioli always plural? Can I say uno spicciolo or qualche spicciolo?

The common form is plural: spiccioli.
Singular exists: uno spicciolo, but it’s rare on its own.
Very natural alternatives: qualche spicciolo (some change) or un po’ di spiccioli.

How can I make the request more polite or formal?

Informal polite: Scusa, hai (degli) spiccioli, per favore?
Formal (to a stranger): Scusi, ha (degli) spiccioli, per favore?
You can soften with per caso: Scusi, ha per caso degli spiccioli?

How do you pronounce spiccioli and accetta?

spiccioli: [spitˈtʃɔli] — stress on the “-cciò-”; double “cc” like a long “ch.”
accetta (from accettare): [atˈtʃetta] — double “cc” and double “tt,” both held a bit longer.
In Hai, the H is silent: [ai].

Why is it Il bar and not Lo bar?

Italian uses:

il before most consonants: il bar, il libro.
lo before s + consonant, z, ps, gn, x, y: lo studente, lo zaino. Since bar starts with a simple b, it takes il.

Does bar in Italian mean the same as English “bar”?

Not exactly. An Italian bar is often a café that serves coffee, pastries, sandwiches, soft drinks, and sometimes alcohol. It’s closer to a café/snack bar than a pub.

In Il bar non accetta la carta, why singular la carta? Could I say carte?

Italian often uses a generic singular with the definite article to refer to a whole category: la carta = card payments in general. You can also say non accetta carte (plural), which is equally common. Both mean “they don’t take cards.”

Should I specify the type of card, like carta di credito or bancomat?

Context decides. la carta is clear if you’re talking about paying. If you need to be specific:

carta di credito = credit card
bancomat (Italy) = debit card/ATM card
More explicit/formal: pagamenti con carta

Are there natural alternatives to Il bar non accetta la carta?

Yes:

Il bar non prende la carta.
Qui non si può pagare con la carta.
Non accettano pagamenti con carta.
On signs: Si accettano solo contanti. / Si accettano carte.

Where does non go in a negative sentence?

Before the verb. Here, non accetta. You cannot place non after the verb in standard Italian.

Can I replace la carta with a pronoun?

Yes: Il bar non l’accetta. Because la + accetta becomes l’accetta (elision before a vowel). With emphasis on the place: Qui non l’accettano.

How do I ask “Do you have any (on you)?” using pronouns?

For an unspecified amount: Ne hai (addosso)? = “Do you have any (on you)?”
To refer to “the coins” explicitly: Ce li hai (gli spiccioli)? Avoid the incorrect Ce l’hai spiccioli? (that mixes singular and plural).

Why la in la carta? Could it be il or una?

Carta is feminine, so its article is la in the singular. Il would be wrong. Una carta means “a (single) card/piece of paper”; you want the category, hence la carta (generic definite).

Could accetta also mean something else?

Yes. accetta is also a noun meaning “hatchet/hand axe.” Same spelling, different word class. Context decides: here it’s the verb accettare (3rd person singular: accetta).

Any regional or colloquial notes I should know?

Many Italians say bancomat for debit card and POS (pronounced [pos]) for the card terminal: Non hanno il POS.
Colloquially: spicci for spiccioli.
On signs, impersonal si is common: Si accettano carte / Si accettano solo contanti.

What are common mistakes to avoid with this sentence?

Using the wrong partitive: say degli spiccioli, not dei spiccioli.
Using the wrong article: il bar, not lo bar.
Dropping the article with carta in a full sentence: prefer la carta (though signs may omit).
Bad agreement: don’t say Il bar non prendono carte; say Il bar non prende carte or make the subject impersonal: Non prendono carte qui.
Mixed pronouns: don’t say Ce l’hai spiccioli?; say Ne hai? or Ce li hai?